MRA Advocates for Whistleblower Protection in Nigeria

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) issued a statement on Tuesday, marking the 2026 World Whistleblower Day, urging the Nigerian government and stakeholders to enact comprehensive whistleblower protection laws. Ms.

Adesewa Akintokun, the program officer at MRA, expressed concern over Nigeria's lack of an effective legal framework to protect whistleblowers, despite various policies aimed at encouraging the reporting of corruption and misconduct. The organization noted that whistleblowers in Nigeria often face dismissal, harassment, intimidation, discrimination, threats to their reputation, legal action, and even physical harm for disclosing information in the public interest.

MRA emphasized that existing measures are inadequate without legislative guarantees for confidentiality and protection against retaliation. They highlighted the critical role of whistleblowers in exposing corruption, fraud, and human rights violations, which are essential for promoting transparency and accountability in governance.

Akintokun called for public institutions, private companies, and civil society organizations to establish safe reporting mechanisms and urged journalists to continue reporting responsibly to protect confidential sources.