Nigerian journalists and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have called on the National Assembly to enact a whistleblower Act to protect media practitioners in exposing corrupt practices.
This was the consensus at a communique at a one-day workshop on effective collaboration in corruption prevention, organized by the ICPC and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Abuja Monday.
The Communique emphasised the need to put in place mechanisms to protect media practitioners who are in the forefront of exposing corrupt individuals and institutions in the country.
They decried the resort by the Police, Military and other security agencies to resort to the Cybercrimes Act to intimidate, suppress and harass journalists who expose corrupt practices and other forms of crimes, stressing that the section on cyber stalking deployed against journalists only hamper the fight against corruption.President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Dr. Chris Iziguzo while speaking at the occasion emphasised the crucial role journalists play in combating corruption, journalists should be supported at all times to bring about a more transparent and accountable Nigeria.
At the workshop with theme: “The Power of the Pen in the Fight against Corruption” Isiguzo highlighted the significance of investigative journalism in exposing corruption.
“The power of the pen is undeniable: it can expose corruption, challenge those in power, and empower citizens to demand accountability,” the President noted.
The President also stressed the need for security and protection of journalists, emphasizing the importance of laws that protect freedom of the press.
“Journalists should not be forced to choose between their duty to the public and their personal safety,” the President said, while
also emphasizing the role of journalism in shifting narratives, challenging the status quo and inspiring action.
“Journalists are not just witnesses to corruption; they are advocates for justice,” the President added.
The workshop is aimed to strengthen the partnership between journalists and anti-corruption agencies, equipping participants with skills in investigative journalism, ethical standards and data journalism.
ICPC had during a panel discussion disclosed that there was a slight decrease in cases of corruption in the country between 2019- 2023.
“We recorded a total of 119, 000 cases of corruption in 2019, but it reduced significantly to 82,000 cases in 2023”
67 local and foreign journalists, civil society organizations, and panelists attended the workshop.
