EFCC Chairman Calls for Whistleblower Protection Law

Ola Olukoye, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has reignited the debate on Nigeria's whistleblower framework, urging the National Assembly to enact legislation that protects whistleblowers and strengthens transparency in the fight against corruption. Speaking at a nationwide sensitization program in Calabar, Cross River State, Olukoye highlighted the necessity of a legal framework to shield whistleblowers from victimization and bureaucratic delays in accessing promised rewards.

He noted that few countries within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have such protections in place. The call for a whistleblower protection law is not new; Olukoye has previously supported whistleblowing as a critical tool in the anti-corruption fight.

The EFCC's whistleblower policy, introduced in 2016, allows citizens to report wrongdoing confidentially and offers rewards for credible tips. Despite its initial success, including the discovery of $43 million in cash linked to former NNPC GMD Andrew Yakubu, whistleblowers continue to face significant risks, including harassment and job loss, due to the absence of comprehensive legal protections.