Press Release
ANEEJ Welcomes Delta State’s Whistleblower Policy, demands law to institutionalise  policy

ANEEJ Welcomes Delta State’s Whistleblower Policy, demands law to institutionalise  policy

BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, January 30, 2025… The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), an anti-corruption watchdog has announced its strong support for the newly introduced whistleblower policy by Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, even as it has urged the Governor to take the next step of transmitting a Whistle Blower Protection Bill to the Delta State House of Assembly for enactment.

ANEEJ Executive Director, the Rev David Ugolor while welcoming the initiative by the Delta State Government noted that it will help to combat poor project delivery and enhance transparency and accountability within the state’s governance framework.

“ANEEJ commends Governor Oborevwori for his proactive stance and commitment to ethical governance. The organization believes that the establishment of hotlines for reporting misconduct empowers citizens and enhances public participation in governance. Whistleblowing is an essential tool in the fight against corruption,” said David Ugolor, who also  encouraged the Delta State government to implement this policy effectively to ensure that the voices of the people are heard and acted upon.

The ANEEJ helmsman also called on the State Governor to take a further step of translating the policy into an executive Whistle Blower Protection Bill for enactment by the Delta State House of Assembly as a way of institutionalising the policy beyond the lifespan of his administration. “A full-blown Delta State Whistle Blowers Protection Law will enable the establishment of institutional framework that would guarantee and sustain the implementation of the policy in the state,” Ugolor advised.

He also sued for stakeholders’ collaboration with the Delta State government to promote awareness of the whistleblower policy and to ensure that citizens are informed about their rights and responsibilities in reporting misconduct. “Together, we can foster a culture of integrity and accountability that will ultimately benefit all Deltans,” David Ugolor said.

It would be recalled that during a recent interactive meeting with Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) at Government House, Asaba, Governor Oborevwori highlighted the necessity of whistleblowing to curb malpractices, particularly instances where civil servants have allegedly colluded with contractors to defraud the state through substandard project execution.

“The introduction of whistleblowing is a significant step toward ensuring ethical leadership and accountability in our project executions,” Governor Oborevwori stated. He emphasized the importance of loyalty, commitment, and dedication among civil servants, urging them to prioritize the welfare of Delta State over personal gain. 

As part of this initiative, the Governor announced measures to hold errant officials accountable, including the suspension of two engineers involved in certifying incomplete projects. He reiterated that transparency and a zero-tolerance stance on corruption are paramount to achieving the goals of the MORE Agenda for Delta State.

For further information, please contact 08187674339 or info@aneej.org and follow us on twitter, Instagram and facebook: @aneejnigria,@Latakpu, aneej__nigeria and facebook.com/aneejnigeria

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