Whistleblowing and the fight against corruption and fraud in Nigeria: perceptions of anti-corruption agents (ACAs)

This study examines the intervention and operationalization of whistleblowing as a new anti-corruption mechanism, based on the experiences of anti-corruption agents (ACAs). Relying on the Theory of Expert Competence and the Institutional Diversity framework, the study examines the views of mid- and senior-level professionals at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in Nigeria regarding the whistleblowing intervention recently introduced to fight corruption and fraud in the country. The findings suggest that while the intervention offers positive prospects in the fight against corruption and fraud in Nigeria, the ACAs face formidable enforcement challenges. The findings also suggest that insights from ACAs on whistleblowing can be harnessed to fight corruption and fraud in Nigeria because ACAs offer a combination of expertise and knowledge of local culture and context, and to be effective, whistleblowing intervention must incorporate local culture. Although critical in advancing anti-corruption initiatives including whistleblowing, the views of ACAs are often overlooked by policy makers.