The Coalition for Whistleblower Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) calls on the Federal Civil Service to protect whistleblower, Richard Oghenerhoro.
The CWPPF regards the disciplinary action against the petitioner, Mr Richard Oghenerhoro, for breach of oath of secrecy, and unauthorised disclosure of official information, as a risible attempt to stifle freedom of expression and a total disregard for the 2016 whistleblowers policy.
This is one among numerous cases of violations and stigmatisation of whistleblowers since the policy was introduced by the Federal Government in 2016 as a strategy to curb corruption in Nigeria.
Whistleblowing is an important tool for fighting corruption. Mr Oghenehoro’s disclosure is timely and important considering the recent report about delisting 70,000 ghost workers in the Federal Civil Service.
You would think that a government that lays so much emphasis on fighting corruption would be appreciative of citizens who are willing to expose irregularities and corruption in the public interest .
CWPPF has taken up cases of victimisation of whistleblowers over the years and we certainly demand that Mr Oghenehoro be protected, reinstated, and appreciated for exposing irregularities and weak employment data systems in the Federal Civil Service rather than focus on the petition.
CWPPF condemns the disciplinary actions against Mr Oghenehoro and calls for the immediate withdrawal of the punitive actions. This would boost citizens’ confidence in reporting irregularities that put the country in danger.
We shall continue to oppose all forms of attacks on human rights and press freedom in Nigeria and across the world and hold the government, individuals, and organizations accountable.
We shall continue to take the necessary measures to prevent violence against journalists and media workers and we will also fiercely demand accountability and bring perpetrators of crimes against journalists and media workers to justice
CWPPF members
Premium Times
OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative
The Cable
Daily Trust Newspaper
International Press Institute, Nigeria
Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism
Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID)
African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)
Civic Media Lab
Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC)
International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR)
International Press Centre (IPC)
International Press Institute, Nigeria
Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)
Paradigm Initiative
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
HEDA Resources Centre.
