Whistle-Blowing Scheme and Credibility of Intelligence Reporting in the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria

Abstract

There is no doubt that the legal framework for fighting corruption has been less effective, probably because it is evidence-based. The whistle-blowing scheme was, therefore, introduced to tackle corrupt practices and provide a means of recovering stolen public funds in Nigeria. Since the scheme's launch in 2016, several studies have analysed its efficacy as an anti-corruption strategy. This paper therefore examines whistle-blowing and the credibility of intelligence reporting in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. This paper addresses the research question using the big four anti-corruption agencies (ICPC, EFCC, CCB, and NEITI) as the respondents for the study to test the research hypothesis. A total sample size of 275 was used for the study. This study uses the regression analysis method to investigate the effects of whistle-blowing on the credibility of intelligence reporting in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. The study uses adjusted R2 as a primary metric for measuring the model specification. The results show that the R square, the coefficient of determination, reveals a high value for all the parameters (ICPC- 72.8%, EFCC- 61.2%, CCB- 58.2%, NEITI- 64.0%) in explaining the model. The empirical findings show that whistle-blowing adoption positively correlates with the credibility of intelligence reporting in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. This paper recommends that strengthening the whistle-blowing scheme (passing of the whistle-blowing bill into law) and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability will contribute to the fight against corruption without fear of reprisal. Establishing robust support systems and legal frameworks will enhance the credibility of intelligence reporting, ultimately leading to more effective anti-corruption efforts. Keywords: Whistle-blowing; credibility; corruption; accountability; transparency.