Asaba, Delta State – The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, in partnership with Global Peace Development and with support from the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), on Saturday, September 13, 2025, organized a one-day training for traditional media practitioners and social media influencers in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The training focused on the Whistleblower Protection Bill 2024, its importance, and how the media can help push for its passage into law.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of Global Peace Development, Mr. Ebruke Esike, explained that the initiative is designed to strengthen accountability and transparency in the use of public funds. According to him, the media has a powerful role to play in ensuring government actions reflect the needs of the people.
“This is the first intervention on this project. We felt it was important to start with the media because they engage with society more directly. When the press puts pressure, government officials begin to act,” Esike said.
He noted that while Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had already introduced a Whistleblower Protection Policy in February 2025, it was not enough because policies cannot be enforced in court. He called on the governor to transmit the bill to the Delta State House of Assembly for legislation.
“A policy that you cannot litigate upon is as good as any other statement. We need this bill passed into law so that people can report corruption, crime, or mismanagement without fear of being victimized,” he added.
Esike stressed that the bill would not only encourage citizens to speak up against wrongdoing but also help tackle insecurity, boost community development, and strengthen Delta’s economy.
“If I provide information and I know the government will protect me, then I will speak up. If I give the right information, there will be rewards, but if I give false information, there will also be consequences,” he explained.
The activist highlighted how insecurity has crippled nightlife and businesses in Delta State, making people unsafe after dark. He insisted that with courage and political will, Delta could transform using its resources.
“From January to August 2025, Delta State received N299.96 billion in federal allocation. With the right use of funds, we can turn Delta into New York,” he said.
He further pointed out that many oil-rich communities in the state still lack basic amenities such as clean water, calling it an injustice that the Whistleblower Bill could help correct by holding leaders accountable.
On the broader purpose of the training, Esike explained:
“We want the media and social media influencers to understand this bill and use their platforms to advocate for it. When citizens know they are protected, they will provide useful information that can help government fight corruption, insecurity, and underdevelopment.”
He also reminded participants that the Whistleblower Protection Bill builds on the Public Finance Management Law passed when Governor Oborevwori was Speaker of the State House of Assembly. However, citizens have been too scared to use that law because they lacked protection.
Esike concluded by urging Governor Oborevwori to take the next bold step:
“We commend the governor for introducing the policy, but now it is time to make it law. Policy is not enough because it is not justifiable in court. Deltans deserve legal protection when they speak up against corruption and crime.”
The training brought together journalists, traditional media practitioners, and social media influencers, who pledged to use their voices to amplify the campaign for the bill’s passage.
