Is Juicy Whistleblowing Truly Worth the Risk?
The Federal Government recently dangled a juicy carrot in front of Nigerians in its continuing fight against corruption. Anyone who volunteers information on official corrupt acts will be entitled to a five per cent cut of any loot recovered through the information. However, while some believe this process would boost the government’s anti-corruption war and help enrich patriotic citizens, others feel the risk far outweighs the five per cent reward, even though the identities of potential whistleblowers would be kept hidden, albeit there is no law or Act currently in place to protect them. To you, is whistleblowing truly worth the reward or the potential risk?
ABIMBOLA AKOSILE
* It (whistleblowing incentive) is a well-intended strategy to fight graft, but it must be backed by law; an enabling law will protect the informant better than the government’s verbal assurances. Looters are also wise and can outsmart the whistleblower who should be careful not to embark on what seems like a suicide mission.
– Mr. Ikpa Matthew, Asokoro, Abuja
* Yes, the juicy whistleblowing task is truly worth the risk. With or without the five per cent cut, al criminal activities should normally be exposed and adequately punished on a good day. Nigerians holding their citizens to ransom calls for concern and address. Looted public funds must be recovered and used to better our collective course. It is even aiding and abetting to allow our monies rot away in selfish private pockets amidst abject poverty. With those huge loots, five per cent cut is mouth-watering and tempting especially with secured protection against culprits. It is an enticing win, win situation we must embrace. Informants must be honest and genuinely protected from culprits’ predation and or attacks. This will enrich the patriotic informant and also boost government and anti-graft war. God bless Nigeria.
– Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State
* It does not and would never be worth the risk as far as sectionalism, tribalism and the worst of it, religion, are concerned in this country. After all, is whistleblowing supposed to be bargained by the government if the citizens are treated fairly and rightly? Not at all, as it is my and our duty to report any wrongdoing to the appropriate body. The present government is too selfish and they brought the initiative for self-glorification.
– Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna
* No, not yet. In advanced climes, yes, the procedure works perfectly, but the current Nigerian environment bedevilled with horrifically heartless kidnappers, hired assassins, armed gangs, insurgents, militants, violent religious bigots, Fulani herdsmen, OPC, Egbesu, Bakassi boys, Shiite Movement, all sorts of mafia, Omo-onile, touts, thugs, cult members in and out of school e.t.c. all at the beck and call of their rich paymasters makes it suicidal to dare them carelessly especially as small arms possession and use is silently legal here today. There is no true protection for potential whistleblowers and so it is not worth the onions.
– Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State
* Whistle-blowing is a measure adopted in other climes, but it is well thought-out over there. Here, it seems to be a knee-jerk reaction. It is a pity! Say, what will happen when you blow the whistle against a real big shot and eventually when the chips come down, government fails to protect you?
– Mr. E. Iheanyi Chukwudi, B.A.R. Apo, Abuja
* Nigeria is a ‘juicy’ jungle and here, the strong prey on the weak.
– Miss Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos State
* A whistleblower should as a matter of fact adopt a ‘look before you leap’ manner of blowing the whistle, which often times makes the difference between having whistle-blowing statutory, regulatory, judicial case law protection or having none. In choosing the time, place, manner or method is blowing such whistle, one must be mindful of his/her own conscience or end up being tormented for life.
– Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna
* The truth of the matter is that there is no sentence in our dictionary to protect the whistleblowers when they give information of where looters hide their loots. What Nigerians need is confidentiality and assurance of their safety and they will do the job to ensure that looted funds are recovered for infrastructural development. At least five to 10 per cent for whistle-blowers is something for somebody to start something, instead of looters taking all the tax-payers money. The United States is using the whistleblower procedure and it is working well for them, why don’t we adopt it here in Nigeria? We must support this government for their doggedness in fighting corruption.
– Mrs. Ijeoma Nnorom, Lagos State
* Anything to loosen Nigerian lips is a welcome development. However, will our criminal justice system be able to recover the identified loot? If loot recovery is our aim, plea-bargaining is the most effective anti-corruption tool we have in Nigeria. It may not be the most ideal, but it is the most effective loot recovery mechanism we have ever used since our criminal justice system collapsed.
– Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State
* Ideally, the five per cent cut of any recovered loot, which usually runs into billions of naira and sometimes hard currency, is worth the risk for any potential whistle-blower. But the question here is: will he or she live long enough to spend that commission after blowing the whistle? The truth is that in Nigeria, blowing the whistle on corruption, even with a strong back-up law in place, is a dangerous process; much less than now when the National Assembly is yet to pass the Whistleblowers Protection bill into an Act. Also, those directly involved in the whistleblowing process can leak the identity of the whistleblower to the looter-culprit for a hefty compensation. Until there is an iron-clad protection process in place, potential whistleblowers may be scared to come forward with useful information on official corrupt acts.
– Mr. Olumuiywa Olorunsomo, Lagos State
* Nobody wants to die in Nigeria, even as bad as the economy and the situation is. Although the five per cent commission from the whistleblower incentive from the federal government is very attractive, the same government must do much more to make sure those who reveal information are well protected enough to enjoy the cut. This will also encourage others to come forward with vital information.
– Mr. Tope Ajagbe, Kwara State
THE FEEDBACK
Yes, it is worth the risk: 1
No, it is not worth it: 2
Others: 8
Radical tip: Do plea-bargain!
Total no of respondents: 11
Male: 8
Female: 3
Highest location: Lagos (5)
Next Week: Can the Private Sector Truly Help Rescue Nigeria?
As the Federal Government has for long been urging the organised private sector (OPS) to be more actively involved in the business of governance and in helping to bring the country out of recession, some analysts believe most operators in the vital sector are too profit-conscious and selfish to help sincerely government. In your own opinion, can the private sector truly help government to revamp the economy and bring positive development to the citizens? If yes, in what ways can this happen?
Please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location. Responses should be sent between today (January 26 & Monday, January 30) to abimbolayi@yahoo.com, greatbimbo@gmail.com, AND abimbola.akosile@thisdaylive.com. Respondents can also send a short text message to 08023117639 and/or 08188361766 and/or 08114495306. Collated responses will be published on Thursday, February 2
