Group urges women, PWDs to engage in whistleblowing

A group, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), has charged women and People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) to be included in whistleblowing as a tool for fighting and ensuring diverse and inclusive approach to address corruption.

Coordinator of AFRICMIL, Dr Chido Onumah, yesterday, during a one-day workshop for women’s groups and PWDs on whistleblowing and whistleblower protection in Nigeria in Lagos, noted that gender and social inclusion is vital for any society in the quest for accountability.

He noted that whistleblowing is one of the most effective methods of exposing corrupt acts and fostering accountability in the internal management of organisations and a mechanism for achieving good governance.

According to him, women and PWDs are known to be the greatest victims of corrupt practices in the country, hence the need to break the culture of silence through speaking out and reporting all illegality to appropriate authorities.

Meanwhile, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Edetaen Ojo, while urging journalists to perform their role of holding government officials accountable, said that Sections 22 and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution legally enable the media to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.

Ojo, who listed some areas that the media should hold the government accountable, said: “Government is accountable for the security and welfare of citizens, state social order founded on the ideals of equality, freedom and justice, as well as provision of opportunities for securing adequate means of livelihood for citizens.”

He said that the media must monitor the government to ensure they abide by the principles and also advocate additional protection, especially for women and PWDs who whistle-blow.

The MRA executive director, therefore, suggested awareness, tracking, documenting and exposing cases of retaliation, investigative reporting, advocacy and policy change.

Also, Resource Person, Juliana Francis, said that to get more women and PWDs active, actions should be taken after every whistle-blowing to boost confidence of the reporters, adding that special courts should be created to handle these cases. She added that support should be given to escalate such issues, while information on channel of reportage should be made open.

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