A former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has expressed regret over not institutionalising the Whistleblower Policy during her tenure, acknowledging that the initiative faded because she failed to give it legal backing. Adeosun made the disclosure as a keynote speaker at the second edition of the Citadel School of Government Dialogue series on Saturday in Lagos, which was founded by Pastor Tunde Bakare.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the whistleblower policy was introduced in December 2016 by the Federal Government as part of initiatives to wage war against corruption. Adeosun, who served as finance minister from 2015 to 2018, said the policy remained one of the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s successful initiatives, but its lack of legal foundation made it vulnerable. “Government policies with legal backing become difficult to change by subsequent administrations that do not like them,” she said.
Delivering a speech on “The Rough Road to Reforms: The Risks, the Resistance, The Reprisals and the Resilient Leader,” Adeosun noted that any policy of government without legal backing is easy to be jettisoned. This observation speaks to a broader challenge in Nigeria’s public policy landscape: successive administrations often discard or neglect initiatives launched by their predecessors, regardless of their effectiveness, because no legal framework protects them from arbitrary termination.
From an institutional perspective, the whistleblower policy was designed to encourage citizens to report financial misconduct, with informants eligible for a percentage of recovered funds. The policy yielded significant results in its early years, leading to the recovery of substantial sums and the exposure of fraudulent practices across government agencies. However, its reliance on executive directive rather than legislative enactment meant that changes in political leadership or priorities could erode its effectiveness. Adeosun’s reflection highlights the importance of embedding policy innovations in law to ensure their continuity beyond the tenure of their champions.
Speaking on corruption, the former minister said that it is not peculiar to Nigeria, noting that there is corruption in all parts of the world. “Nigeria only needs building of strong institutions to correct human behavior to stamp out corruption,” she said. This framing shifts the focus from individual culpability to systemic reform, suggesting that even well-intentioned policies will fail if the institutional environment does not support ethical behaviour and accountability.
Adeosun also addressed the challenges faced by leaders attempting to implement reforms. She said that a reformer in leadership must be compassionate as well as carry people along, noting that leaders who pursue reforms often face institutional resistance and must find ways to overcome such obstacles. This insight reflects her own experience navigating the complexities of the federal bureaucracy while attempting to implement fiscal reforms, including the introduction of efficiency units and the tightening of procurement processes.
Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, lauded Adeosun for continuing to do great things to benefit Nigeria “in spite of the fire she faced.” He described the former minister as a “daughter of God, who made us proud,” adding that “if Adeosun had not won her case, the stigma would have trailed her. It is highly commendable that she came out as minister and no houses or stolen funds were traced to her.” This commendation references the legal challenges Adeosun faced regarding her national service certificate, a controversy that led to her resignation from office.
Bakare said the topic of the dialogue remained germane to prepare those in government and those aspiring to lead to be resilient and think through the reforms they would be bringing in. “Reforms may not usher in an immediate change but there is always need to remain focused and not chase shadows,” he said. His remarks underscore the long-term perspective required for effective governance, where the benefits of reforms may only become apparent after sustained implementation over multiple electoral cycles.
The Executive Director of the CSG, Mr Omoaholo Omoakhalen, said the dialogue series were developed to bring in people who have served in government to share their experiences. “Adeosun was chosen to speak on reforms to aid current and emerging leaders as Nigeria still needs so many more reforms across board,” he added. The dialogue series reflects a growing recognition that institutional memory and practical insights from former officials can help current and future leaders avoid predictable pitfalls.
The whistleblower policy’s trajectory offers lessons for current policymakers. The policy was effective while it had active political backing, but its influence waned as attention shifted and no legal framework ensured its continued operation. For the current administration’s reform agenda, including tax reforms, fiscal policy changes, and governance initiatives, the lesson is clear: executive directives alone are insufficient. To outlast political cycles, reforms must be embedded in legislation, supported by dedicated funding, and protected by institutional arrangements that insulate them from arbitrary reversal.
As Nigeria continues its journey of economic and governance reforms, Adeosun’s reflection serves as both a cautionary tale and a practical guide. The whistleblower policy demonstrated what is possible when political will meets citizen engagement. Its decline demonstrated what happens when institutionalisation is neglected. For current leaders, the challenge is to ensure that the reforms of today do not become the missed opportunities of tomorrow.
