News
Whistleblowing- a Way to Go for Nigeria?
The Minister of Finance recently announced incentives for whistleblowers as one of the strategies of combating corruption.
Since the announcement, the social media has been agog with reactions ranging from: let’s wait and see, to hilarious, and to more bizarre comments like don’t mind them they are confused, etc.
I would like to address the issue by being academic, and maybe realistic.
What is Whistleblowing?
A whistleblower (also whistle-blower or whistle blower) is a person who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within an organization (or community) that is either private or public. … Two other classifications of whistleblowing are private and public (Wikipedia; italics provided)
Whistleblowers can also be designated by the type of whistleblowing. Federal whistleblowers: These are government employees who reveal misconduct committed by their employers or can also be private-sector employees who inform about the misconduct of their employers that is committed in relation to the federal government.
Benefits of Whistleblowing
For people who work for the federal government, theWhistleblower Protection Act, or WPA, protects disclosures of misconduct. This law protects federal employees who disclose illegal or improper government activities.
Whistleblower protection is therefore essential to encourage the reporting of misconduct, fraud and corruption.
Providing effective protection for whistleblowers supports an open culture where people are not only aware of how to report but also have confidence in the reporting procedures.
It also helps businesses prevent and detect bribery in commercial transactions.
The protection of both public and private sector whistleblowers from retaliation for reporting in good faith suspected acts of corruption and other wrongdoing is therefore integral to efforts to combat corruption, safeguard integrity, enhance accountability, and support a clean business environment.
Is Whistleblowing Peculiar to Nigeria?
About 50 countries have adopted national laws of Whistleblowing in one form or the other to address the issue of corruption.
Some include: USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Jamaica, India, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, New Zealand, South Africa, Ghana, South Korea, and Uganda. Kenya and Rwanda are still considering adopting the law.
Impact of Whistleblowing on Corruption
The risk of corruption is significantly heightened in environments where the reporting of wrongdoing is not supported or protected. Where a culture of disclosure is created it will help to reduce corruption as seen in the developed world.
Legal Issues:
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the following legal issues are required for consideration:
1. Is there comprehensive and clear legislation in place to protect from retaliation, discriminatory or disciplinary action, employees/citizens who disclose in good faith and on reasonable grounds, suspected acts of wrongdoing or corruption to competent authorities?
2. Are there effective institutional frameworks andclear procedures and channels in place for facilitating the reporting of wrongdoing and corruption?
3. Are protected disclosures and persons afforded protection clearly defined?
4. Are retaliatory actions clearly defined and theprotection afforded robust and comprehensive?
5. Are remedies and sanctions for retaliation clearly outlined?
6. Is awareness-raising regularly undertaken to encourage the reporting of wrongdoing and corruption and to disseminate existing information on the protection of whistleblowers?
7. Is the effectiveness in practice of the whistleblower protection framework periodically evaluated and reviewed?
Nigeria, is it Achievable?
Is 5% commission enough incentive to be a whistleblower?
This million-dollar question is; Is our society and security apparatus ready to protect whistleblowers? How do we mitigate these fears? Will the average Nigerian risk his life for 5%?
Objectives
Now my two pence: I believe the principles behind whistleblowing are noble and in line with global best practices as seen in over 50 countries, it means we must watch each other’s back.
The fight against corruption has been mostly against politicians which is good however, I think whistleblowing should look at other sectors especially the civil service, where corruption is still huge.
The challenge I see, is that of abuse; I can call to report my neighbor if I am jealous of his achievements. So, lots of spurious alerts, but there will be successes to. As with other programs in Nigeria, implementation is my fear. Government should not be in a hurry to introduce the law without having structures in place to achieve seamless success.
Tuobrimah writes from Lagos- [email protected]
The Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN) and the Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) have enjoined banks to further deepen and prioritize financial inclusion, women’s empowerment and sustained growth through strategic mandates and frameworks, aimed at closing the financial gap and empowering more small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners.
Both organisations made this call during a courtesy visit to the newly invested 24th President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Dele Alabi, Ph.D, FCIB, as part of plans to congratulate him on his investiture as well as seek a stronger alliance between both bodies.
The visit followed Alabi’s investiture where he unveiled his “IMPACT” Vision, themed “Consolidating Our Local Impact, Enhancing Our Global Relevance.”
The vision rests on six pillars: Inclusion across geographic, gender, and generational lines; Membership growth and quality; Professionalism and ethics; Accountability; Competencies and skills development; Technology, automation, and innovation. Other areas of shared interest, include women empowerment, financial inclusion and literacy, as well as MSME clinics, all of which are top on his agenda.
Alabi explained that under him, the institute will be prioritising financial inclusion and women empowerment, because of its realisation that women are often the primary financial managers and caregivers in families. Access to savings, micro-credit, and insurance acts as a safety net during crisis and allows them to significantly improve living conditions.
He added that CIBN would be happy to drive joint knowledge sharing and exchange sessions with CBN and ACAMB across various platforms. “Educating the public through public awareness programmes, with ACAMB as the rallying point, is central to what we do,” he noted.
ACAMB President, Jide Sipe, who led the delegation, spoke in unison with the CIBN president, as he noted that, closing the inbalances in financial access help economies grow faster, reduces inequality, and encourages greater civic participation by all.
Lagos State has become the first sub-national government in Nigeria to establish a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Registry, a move aimed at strengthening climate governance, improving emissions accountability and accelerating the state’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The Lagos State Greenhouse Gas Registry (LGHGR) was unveiled at the Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, at a ceremony attended by Prof. Akin Abayomi, commissioner for Health, members of the State Executive Council, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, development partners, TPHG Technologies, the diplomatic and business communities, academics, civil society organisations and the media.
Describing the initiative as a landmark achievement in the state’s environmental sustainability drive, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, general manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), said the Registry marks a defining moment in Lagos’ climate action journey and reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to building a resilient, climate-smart and environmentally sustainable economy.
According to Ajayi, the digital platform will enable the state to accurately measure, monitor, report and verify greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors, providing credible data to guide environmental policies and climate interventions.
He said the Registry would strengthen evidence-based decision-making, improve transparency and accountability, support national and international climate reporting obligations, unlock carbon market opportunities and boost investor confidence in Lagos’ environmental initiatives.
Ajayi also commended TPHG Technologies for providing the technical expertise that made the pioneering project possible.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Abayomi described the Registry as a major milestone that positions Lagos at the forefront of climate governance and emissions accountability in both Nigeria and Africa.
He noted that climate change has evolved into a significant public health and governance challenge, stressing that access to reliable emissions data would enable the state to formulate evidence-based policies, attract climate financing, strengthen resilience and accelerate its transition to a low-carbon economy.
Providing insights into the technical framework of the project, Dr. Mofoluso Fagbeja, lead consultant and chief executive officer, TPHG Technologies, explained that the Registry was developed from the greenhouse gas inventory jointly undertaken by LASEPA and TPHG Technologies in 2022, using 2019 as the baseline year for emissions assessment.
He said the platform is designed to close critical emissions data gaps, particularly within the industrial sector, while supporting effective climate policy implementation, emissions management and sustainable development.
Fagbeja also disclosed that the greenhouse gas inventory estimated that poor air quality contributes to about 35,000 premature deaths annually in Lagos, underscoring the urgent need for stronger emissions control measures and cleaner environmental practices.
In a goodwill message, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, minister of Environment, represented by Mrs. Adenaike Olunimpe Oludunni, federal controller of Environment in Lagos, commended Lagos State for pioneering the initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s climate commitments.
He said the Registry aligns with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and supports the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan, while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to deeper collaboration with Lagos State on climate governance and environmental sustainability.
A recently released Henley Passport Index 2026, showed that Nigerian citizens can travel to at least 20 destinations outside the African continent where entry is allowed either visa-free, with a visa on arrival (VOA) at no extra cost, or via an e-visa.
This expanded access opens doors for Nigerian travellers to experience countries in the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond with greater ease.
Below is a comprehensive guide to countries outside Africa which Nigerian passport holders can visit without a traditional visa.
Visa-Free Countries outside Africa for Nigerian Passport Holders:
Barbados
Cambodia – Visa on arrival
Comoros Islands – Visa on arrival
Cook Islands
Dominica
Fiji
Haiti
Iran – Visa on arrival
Kiribati
Lebanon
Maldives – Visa on arrival
Micronesia
Montserrat
Niue – Visa on arrival
Palau Islands – Visa on arrival
Samoa – Visa on arrival
St. Kitts and Nevis
Timor-Leste – Visa on arrival
Tuvalu
Vanuatuul
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