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2007 Assessment

Nigeria: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Nigeria: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Whistle-blowing Measures
Indicators		Score
45	Are employees protected from recrimination or other negative consequences when reporting corruption (i.e. whistle-blowing)?	25
46	In law, is there an internal mechanism (i.e. phone hotline, e-mail address, local office) through which civil servants can report corruption?	0
47	In practice, is the internal mechanism (i.e. phone hotline, e-mail address, local office) through which civil servants can report corruption effective?	13

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Are employees protected from recrimination or other negative consequences when reporting corruption (i.e. whistle-blowing)?

45a: In law, civil servants who report cases of corruption, graft, abuse of power, or abuse of resources are protected from recrimination or other negative consequences.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: There are no whistleblowers protection laws.

45b: In practice, civil servants who report cases of corruption, graft, abuse of power, or abuse of resources are protected from recrimination or other negative consequences.

Score:

100

Comments: There have been cases of unofficial victimization of whistleblowers, although this happens a lot more at the states level.

References: 1.Lilian Ekeanyanwu, national coordinator, Zero Corruption Coalition, Pact's Office, Aug. 28, 007; 2. Dr. Uyim Akpabio, director, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), CCB's Abuja office, Aug. 14, 2007

45c: In law, private sector employees who report cases of corruption, graft, abuse of power, or abuse of resources are protected from recrimination or other negative consequences.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: There are no laws covering whistleblowers in the private sector.

45d: In practice, private sector employees who report cases of corruption, graft, abuse of power, or abuse of resources are protected from recrimination or other negative consequences.

Score:

100

Comments: This is the same as the public sector, although cases of harassment are fewer in this sector because the management would be eager to hear of corrupt practices that is costing them profit. The whistleblower can be punished in an unofficial way, and there are no avenues for redress.

In law, is there an internal mechanism (i.e. phone hotline, e-mail address, local office) through which civil servants can report corruption?

46: In law, is there an internal mechanism (i.e. phone hotline, e-mail address, local office) through which civil servants can report corruption?

Score:

YES

Comments: Even though there are no laws, the ICPC has a unit in most government establishments where corrupt practices can be reported to. A few agencies also have their own corruption hotlines.

References: There is no such provision in law.

In practice, is the internal mechanism (i.e. phone hotline, e-mail address, local office) through which civil servants can report corruption effective?

47a: In practice, the internal reporting mechanism for public sector corruption has a professional, full-time staff.

Score:

100

Comments: Staff is drawn within the ministries to form these units, and most of the times they are not professionals. This is considered a "dry" posting.

47b: In practice, the internal reporting mechanism for public sector corruption receives regular funding.

Score:

100

Comments: These units recieve little or no funding, so largely they cannot do anything.

47c: In practice, the internal reporting mechanism for public sector corruption acts on complaints within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments: Units are affected by the usual civil service bureaucracy and have very limited funding, so they can rarely perform their duties. Their independence is debatable, as staff are drawn from the government establishment itself.

47d: In practice, when necessary, the internal reporting mechanism for public sector corruption initiates investigations.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: When irregularities are discovered, the agency/entity is aggressive in investigating the government or in cooperating with other agencies\' investigations. <p>50 Score Criteria: The agency/entity starts investigations, but is limited in its effectiveness. The agency/entity may be slow to act, unwilling to take on politically powerful offenders, reluctant to cooperate with other investigative agencies, or occasionally unable to enforce its judgments. <p>0 Score Criteria: The agency/entity does not effectively investigate. The agency/entity may start investigations but not complete them, may refuse to cooperate with other investigative agencies, or may fail to detect offenders. The agency/entity may be partisan in its application of power.$

Comments: Units are affected by the usual civil service bureaucracy and have very limited funding, so they rarely perform their duties. Their independence is debatable, as staff are drawn from the government establishment itself.