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Whistle Blowing Policy in the Nigerian society By Alachi Regina. Corruption is the act of using entrusted power for private gain or benefit. Whistle blowing policy is an anti-corruption initiative, it is a policy set in place to curb and fight against corruption. ‘’Whistle blowing has been identified as an action taken by an employee, alerting society to potential or actual damage to the public as a result of present or future actions to the firms’’. It is the process in which a wrong doing that tends to affect or threaten the general public is exposed. Whistle blowing is not done by employees alone as such the definition above is cryptic.Whistle blowing is a process that includes not just workers or employees. Anyone in the society is likely to blow the whistle on an organization or an individual. As such, I’d like to think of whistleblowing as a process whereby an individual in the society reports or alert the society to potential or actual wrongdoing that threatens the general public. With the above statement whistle blowing is no longer limited to employees in a firm or an organization. That is, an individual could be an employee or a courageous member of the society. Whistle blowing policy as earlier stated, is an anti-corruption initiative that promotes the culture of breaking the silence and speaking up by exposing wrongdoings. The whistle blowing policy has the following objectives: 1. Promoting or encouraging individuals to speak up. That is, promoting the culture of breaking the silence. 2. Encouraging the fulfillment of ones civic and constitutional duty of reporting crimes and wrongdoings. 3. Enabling government trace, recover and return stolen loots from within and outside the country. 4. To promote the culture of accountability, corporate governance, compliance with rules and regulation and public institutions. 5. Supporting the implementation of open governance principles. 6. Strengthen the fight against corruption. Wrongdoings fall under one or more of these categories listed below: 1. Criminal offences ( E.g. fraud) 2. Non-compliance with laid down rules and regulations. 3. Obstruction of justice. That is perpetrating injustice. 4. Endangering the health and safety of individuals in the society. 5. Causing harm to the environment. 6. Turning a blind eye or covering up a crime or wrongdoing makes you an accomplice. Whistleblowing should be carried out by whistle blowers with the knowledge that; Firstly, he or she is acting based on the interest of the general public and not on the basis of personal grievances. Secondly, that it exposes past, present and possibly future wrongdoings that falls under one or more of the categories earlier mentioned above. There are certain challenges that affects the whistle blowing policy in Nigeria as seen below: 1. There is no proper sensitization on this subject matter of whistle blowing. A lot of awareness has not been created to enlighten the citizens and members of the society on the importance of whistle blowing. 2. Lack of accountability among agencies in dispensing its duties effectively. 3. Lack of proper or adequate funding. 4. Lack of proper legal framework. 5. Lack of trained personnel 6. The bureaucratic processes take extra time than necessary. To blow the whistle, individuals must note and take into cognizance that retributions are most likely inevitable. It doesn’t necessarily have to be death, it may come as delay in the payment of salaries or no pay at all, it could be threats, stigmatization of all kinds and so much more. AFRICMIL(The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy) funded by the Mac Arthur foundation has made it easier to report cases or blow the whistle anonymously without fear or favour through the whistle blower campaign known as Corruption Anonymous. Moving on I’d like to examine measures that can be put in place to promote the culture of whistle blowing admist the challenges; Firstly, the policy of whistle blowing should be institutionalized, that is, it should be made a law rather than a policy. It shouldn’t just be a bill(law in motion) but rather a law. This gives the policy a better security. Secondly awareness should be created even to the rural areas. If need be, it should be translated in local dialects by interpreters to give natives a better understanding of the policy. Symposiums, seminars, talkshows, radio and television stations adverts should be carried out. On social media platforms, sponsored adverts should also be considered so as to reach a larger target audience. Thirdly, employees of these agencies should be made to undergo rigorous training exercises that test their capacity to withhold information even under pressure. They should be made to understand that keeping the confidentiality of a whistle blower who doesn’t want to be made known is not negotiable. They could be made to sign Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and should be severely punished when they’re found wanting. This would serve as an example to those who would want to derail and at the same time give a certain level assurance to a whistle blower. Furthermore, the government should provide adequate funds to enable those agencies function properly. For example the Presidential Initiave on Continuous Auditing (PICA) is handicapped as a result of lack of funds and is brought to limelight with the help of AFRICMIL. The funds are also needed to help with the care of witnesses in the witness protection program. Lastly, the justice system should be swift in carrying out certain verdicts in support of of whistle blowers who are victimized and stigmatized for blowing the whistle against firms, organizations or individuals. The judicial system is considered the last hope of the common man as such, should stay true to this cause. The legal system should be suited to encourage whistleblowing. Offenders should be duly punished without fear or favour. The above mentioned are just few ways I think the policy of whistle blowing can be improved upon and promoted. Before I draw up my conclusion below are reporting channels; Website- www.whistle.finance.gov.ng OR www.corruptionanonymous.org Call- 08118771666 Or Email – info@africmil.org In conclusion, despite our fears and reservations about whistle blowing giving the uncertainties and consequences, it is of great importance to note that he who keeps silent in the face of tyranny is worse than the tyrant himself. Aside this being our civic right and obligation as citizens of Nigeria, covering up and turning blind eyes makes us all accomplices. The fight against corruption should not be left alone to the government or these agencies only. I ought to stand for a corrupt free Nigeria and so should you. Nigeria will be great again but it’s up to you and I to begin the change movement and that we can do by breaking the culture of silence and fighting against corrupt practices. The change we so desire begins with you and I.