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Nigerian govt reassures CSOs on law to protect anti- corruption whistle blowers
The Nigerian government says it is going ahead with the enactment of laws to protect anti-corruption whistle blowers.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who gave the assurances also revealed revealed that plans are underway to reintroduce the aborted bill to the 10th National Assembly.
The Nigeria’s Chief Law Officer made the pledge during a town hall meeting organized by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development (PRIMORG) in collaboration with the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) at the weekend in Abuja.
The development is also coming ahead of a Policy Roundtable on Whistleblower Protection Law slated for Tuesday, November 7, 2023, in Abuja.
Represented by the Chief Legal Officer, Ministry of Justice, Adesoji Afolabi, the AGF emphasized that the whistleblower bill that did not see the light of the day during the 9th National Assembly will be reintroduced to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and then forwarded to the parliament.
“In legislative process and procedures, once a bill couldn’t be passed in the last Assembly, that means it needs to be reintroduced, and I think the Federal Ministry of Finance is about doing that.
“Government will put all efforts to ensure that the bill is reintroduced, and when it is done, I trust our Honourable Attorney General who will now take it up from there, because you can’t fight corruption based on policy because whistleblower policy does not have the force of law.
“The government is interested in fighting corruption, and the law does not target any person,” Afolabi stressed.
He noted that the immediate past assembly couldn’t pass whistleblower bills with them into law because of timing, adding that this time, “I’m optimistic whistleblower legislation is a reality.”
The Minister also urged Nigerians to support the government’s efforts to fight corruption while hailing AFRICMIL, PRIMORG and other CSOs for lending their voices towards legislation for whistleblowing.
The Coordinator of AFRICMIL, Dr. Chido Onumah, said whistleblower legislation would be a legacy for President Bola Tinubu’s administration if achieved, adding that Nigerians who are willing to expose corrupt acts are deterred by a lack of laws to protect whistleblowers.
Speaking on the forthcoming Policy Roundtable on Whistleblower Protection Law, Onumah revealed that it is an advocacy put together by AFRICMIL in collaboration with PRIMORG and other civil society groups to “develop key ideas and strategies to put whistleblowing and the passage of a whistleblower protection law in Nigeria on the front burner of the national conversation.”
“Among other things, participants will take stock of the situation of whistleblowing and whistleblowers in Nigeria, the current position of the draft whistleblower protection law, as well as challenges and opportunities in the quest to have a whistleblower protection law in Nigeria,” Onumah stated.
Stakeholders expected at the policy roundtable are drawn from civil society organizations, media, the National Assembly, public interest lawyers, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.
Meanwhile, other participants at the town hall meeting underscored the importance of strengthening the anti-corruption fight with whistleblower legislation while urging federal lawmakers to prioritize the passage of whistleblower protection law.
According to Legal practitioner Godwin Chigbu, “Without a whistleblower protection law, the existing policy will not be adequately executed. President Tinubu needs whistleblower law to recover stolen funds belonging to Nigeria”.
On his part, a journalist with TheCable, Gyep Shibayan, asked the National Assembly to give the enactment of a whistleblower protection law accelerated attention.
The Radio Town Hall meeting series is aimed at increasing citizens’ active participation and involvement and encouraging the government to institutionalize the whistleblowing policy.
The program runs with support from the MacArthur Foundation.
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Anambra debunks story of collapsed govt house structures
Anambra State has described as untrue, story making the rounds on media that some structures at the new government house collapsed on Thursday following rainstorm.
A statement signed by Christian Aburime, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Saturday, said the report was false and malicious, saying no structure within the new government house collapsed.
The statement said what was affected was a portion of the barricade barriers constructed outside the government house perimeter fence and attributed the incident to heavy wind that affected many structures across the state including privately owned properties.
The statement reads- “The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to misleading and mischievous reports by a few sections of the media suggesting that “a structure in the new Government House” collapsed due to substandard quality during the heavy rainstorm that occurred on Thursday evening, 9th April, 2026.
“For the avoidance of doubt and to set the records straight, we wish to state categorically that no structure within the Anambra State Government House collapsed. What was affected were a few partitions of the barricade barriers erected outside the Government House, approximately 20 metres away from the perimeter fence.
“The unfortunate incident was as a result of heavy wind and thunderstorms that wreaked havoc across several parts of the state that evening, which also affected property in private homes.
“Meanwhile, the Anambra Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) has already mobilised to the site. Work is ongoing to fully rebuild the damaged sections of the barrier and to introduce additional engineering measures, including the creation of ample space to allow for free flow of heavy wind, in order to prevent future occurrences.
“The Anambra State Government condemns the circulation of fake news on this matter as a deliberate attempt by a few misguided elements to mislead Ndi Anambra and politicise a natural weather event which is not exclusive to Anambra State.
“We urge the general public to disregard the fake news and continue to support the progressive agenda of Mr Governor.”
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Kambari commends NiMet’s contributions to aviation safety, national dev
Photo caption: (L-R) Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mahmud Adam Kambari; and the Director General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, at the NiMet headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Director General/CEO of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike on Thursday, played host to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mahmud Adam Kambari, who was in his office at the agency’s Abuja headquarters.
The visit is part of ongoing familiarization tour by Kambari, of the agencies under the Ministry and is aimed at strengthening institutional alignment, enhancing collaboration, and reviewing operational priorities within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
During the engagement, Prof. Charles Anosike presented an overview of the Agency’s mandate, technical capabilities, and key initiatives.
He highlighted the strategic importance of NiMet’s mandate within the aviation industry and beyond, including various publications generated by the Agency such as the Aeronautical Meteorological Bulletin, the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and others in supporting air navigation, national planning, disaster risk reduction, and climate resilience.
He noted that meteorological services have evolved beyond traditional observation, monitoring and forecasting to becoming critical tools for national security, economic stability, food security, and sustainable development.
“Accurate and timely weather and climate information plays a vital role in safeguarding lives, livelihoods and property across multiple sectors,” Anosike noted.
He also outlined notable milestones, including the attainment of ISO certifications, which underscore NiMet’s adherence to international standards in service delivery.
Additionally, he highlighted the Agency’s growing partnerships with key national institutions, as well as international partners, aimed at strengthening capacity, improving services and enhancing national resilience.
In his remarks, Kambari commended NiMet for its strategic contributions to aviation safety and national development. He stressed the importance of collaboration, capacity building, and alignment with national aviation objectives.
“Strong institutional synergy is essential for achieving the Ministry’s mandate,” The Permanent Secretary emphasized.
He further underscored the need to prioritise staff welfare, describing a motivated and well-supported workforce as fundamental to effective service delivery.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting NiMet in strengthening operational capacity, enhancing workforce development, and sustaining high-quality service delivery.
The Permanent Secretary was accompanied by directors and senior officials of the Ministry.
The visit aligns with the broader vision of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to promote synergy, innovation, and efficiency across agencies under the Ministry.
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Photo News: Jonathan Foundation host talk on Democracy and Economic Growth
By Bonaventure Phillips Melah
Photo News: Ongoing conversation organized by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) on Democracy and Economic Growth Nexus Report Launch at Transcorps Hilton Abuja. Among dignitaries include ex-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, SGF George Akume, Minister of state Budget Doris Uzoka Anita, Mr. Peter Obi, Dr. Mathew Ayibakuro, Dr. Sam Amadi (represented), Majeed Dahiru and others. The event was declared open by GJF Executive Director, Ann Iyonu. Details loading.
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