Desperate times call for desperate measures. This is supported by the action of various countries and organizations that are actively fighting against Corruption. The strategies and policies that are constantly presented in this fight are visible to the blind and audible to the deaf.
As visible as these policies may be, l wonder if we can say the same about corruption - Can you see corruption? Can you touch corruption? Can you feel it?
First thing first, it is important for us to note that corruption is just as abstract as it sounds. We cannot see, touch or smell it but everyone can agree that it stinks and does not deserve to coexist in the same place with sane people.
It is no longer a surprise to see that many countries are adopting extraordinary measures to annihilate corruption in their system. "War against corruption" is a slogan that Nigerians know too well and the same goes for the whistleblowing policy which was initiated in Nigeria in 2016.
I'm more interested in the "whistleblowing policy" and how it relates to corruption.
THE CONCEPT OF WHISTLEBLOWING
By “blowing the whistle”, you may highlight illegal activity in the workplace, and you may protect others in future.
With the above statement made by UNISON, we all can agree that whistleblowing should ultimately be done for the sake of transparency and justice. It is something that needs to come into play whenever a stakeholder (employee, supplier, management etc) notice that something is going wrong within an organisation.
Whistleblowing policy currently serves as a check on the operation of various Institutions and Organisations. It protects the interest of whistleblowers and guarantees their job security upon the verification of their claims against a particular Organisation.
WHISTLEBLOWING IS A PRETTY WORD BUT BEING A WHISTLEBLOWER IS NOT AS PRETTY AS YOU THINK.
The journey of whistleblowing is usually very challenging because many people see it as an act of biting the hand that fed you.
Whistleblowers are often stigmatised within their organisation and many of them bear the brunt of their activities throughout their career. Some are treated as corporate spies and the shame that goes with this can be likened to walking across a busy street unclad - it's even worst than that.
On the other hand, the benefits that are attached to whistleblowing are also very juicy. Whistleblower reward has been said to be the major reason for cases of whistleblowing over the last 4 years. I wouldn't argue about that because l know that most of the whistleblowers here end up fighting for their share of the spoils from their act of whistleblowing.
What if the whistleblower is also corrupt?
What if he is blowing the whistle to a corrupt government?
Who will act upon the blown whistle?
Hang around for the second part of this post.
Thanks For Not Missing Any Full-stop Or Comma
Crossposted to my blogpage in another platform