The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has called on the National Assembly of Nigeria to enact comprehensive legislation that will protect whistleblowers and strengthen transparency in the fight against corruption.
Olukoyede made the appeal on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Calabar, Cross River State, during a nationwide sensitisation programme on the implementation of Nigeria’s whistleblowing policy.
Speaking on the theme, “Benefits of the Whistleblowing Policy in the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria,” the EFCC chairman emphasised the need for a strong legal framework to safeguard individuals who expose corrupt practices. He noted that such legislation would also remove bureaucratic obstacles that often delay or prevent whistleblowers from accessing financial rewards tied to their disclosures.
“I reiterate that we need a robust Act of the National Assembly to protect those who risk their lives to disclose corruption in this country,” he said. “It is troubling that in a region where entrenched corruption continues to undermine development efforts, only Ghana and Senegal have enacted whistleblower protection laws within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).”
Olukoyede, who was represented at the event by the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC in Uyo, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE I) Oshodi Johnson, urged citizens to view whistleblowing primarily as a civic duty aimed at preventing the looting of public funds rather than merely a pathway to financial reward.
According to him, preventing corruption at its source is more effective than attempting to recover stolen assets after they have been diverted, noting that full recovery is often difficult.
He also urged lawmakers to domesticate provisions of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), particularly Article 33, which provides measures for the protection of individuals who report corruption-related offences.
Participants at the sensitisation programme included representatives of anti-corruption agencies, lawmakers, security organisations, development partners, and other stakeholders engaged in Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.
