A Whistleblower Protection Mechanism:- Ajah Chinenye D

Abstract

Reporting ofwrongdoing in private or public organization in the public interest to the authorities concerned known as ‘whistleblowing’ is globally gaining support. It is no longer strange that some ‘courageous’ current or former employees or even a member ofthe public exposes a big financial scandal, mismanagement ofpublic funds or grievous breach ofhealth and safety regulation. The revelation made could be disastrous both to the organization reported and to the person making the report. Ordinarily, because ofthe existence ofthe common law duties oftrust, loyalty and confidence a whistle-blower could be legitimately dismissed and prosecuted. So many countries are now abandoning this old harsh common law principle in favor oflaws protecting whistleblowers against any consequences oftheir revelation. Whistleblowing has become more important and more controversial as many federal employees take their information directly to the press. Despite the several federal statutes offering employees protections from reprisal for whistleblowing within their agencies, employees continue to take inside knowledge of corruption, scandal, waste, and mismanagement directly to the public via the media. This paper is to emphasize the protection ofthe whistleblower should not directly come from the government.