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BUHARI ASKED TO ISSUE EXECUTIVE ORDER ON WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY

Published

5 years ago

September 16, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has been asked to protect whistleblowers in Nigeria by signing an Executive order on the whistleblower policy.

The call was made Wednesday by a senior lecturer and Head of Department, Public and International Law at Baze University, Dr. Sam Amadi, during a radio program, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG.

Amadi’s call came on the heels of an outcry by Nigerians who are persecuted for the revealing corrupt act in the public service.

It will be recalled that the Whistleblower Policy was launched in 2016, by the Buhari’s administration, with the aim of encouraging people to voluntarily disclose information about fraud, bribery, looted government funds, financial misconduct, government assets, and any other form of corruption or theft.

During the program, a whistleblower Joseph Ameh who lost his job after revealing a corrupt act at the College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State, lamented that his life has been under threat and his means of livelihood taken away for exposing corruption in the institution.

Ameh, who spoke on phone from his base in Delta State, said the school authorities turned against him after he reported unsafe practices in the construction of structures in the school to the Architect Council of Nigeria and frauds to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

He added that in a bid to frustrate him, the institution refused to pay him three months’ salary in lieu which is statutory for a dismissed staff. “As a staff whose appointment was terminated, there are conditions which include three months’ salary in lieu, this was confiscated to ensure that I will be forced to hardship.”

Against the institution’s position, Ameh denied any wrongdoing prior to his dismissal, saying “I didn’t violate any lay down rules in the institution. Everything coming attempts to build up a case that led to my dismissal. While the ICPC was still around, one of the relatives of the Provost walked up to me and told me that I must be dismissed.

Reacting to the persecution whistleblowers are facing, Amadi faulted the foundation of the policy, stressing that the whistleblower policy is not a law, hence should have come as an executive order from the President.

“The policy should be at the level of the President. The President has the power to say all executive branches, whenever there is a whistleblower this is what you should do. It becomes a policy at the level of Executive Order.

Proffering solution to the persecution of whistleblowers, Amadi had these to say: “The first solution is to sign the bill. Secondly, the President should issue an Executive Order mandating all Ministers, anti-graft agencies, and Police to protect whistleblowers and in this Order set up procedures and processes for whistleblowers so that when someone blows the whistle and he will be secured.

“You can’t talk about whistleblowing without physical protection. You also have to guarantee them their job even if they’ve committed an offense, they shouldn’t be removed based on that premise,” he stated.

On his part, Igho Akeregha who is President of Civil Liberties Organisation and the Abuja Bureau Chief of Guardian Newspapers sympathized with the situation Ameh Joseph and his likes found themselves, while urging President Buhari and the National Assembly to institutionalize whistleblower policy to strengthen the nation’s fight against corruption.

PRIMORG also vowed to continue doing its best in drawing the needed attention of relevant authorities for urgent action to the plight of the dismissed whistleblower and others.

The syndicated radio program is produced by PRIMORG with the support from the MACARTHUR FOUNDATION.

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Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

3 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

At just 18 and 20 years old, Chiamanda and Chiamaka Ononiwu — daughters of renowned Nigerian surgeon Dr. Charles Ononiwu — have achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of their debut inspirational books, Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls.

Their literary journey began six years ago, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was engulfed in fear and uncertainty, the then 13- and 15-year-old sisters turned inward, using writing as an outlet to process their emotions, express their faith, and reach out to others with messages of hope and resilience.

What began as a quiet act of creativity blossomed into two powerful books that now serve as beacons of light for readers navigating life’s storms.

Eighteen-year-old Chiamanda Ononiwu is the author of Do Not Be Afraid. A passionate Electrical Engineering student , she is also a proud alumna of Intellichild TLC and Valedictorian of Great Blessings School, Class of 2022.

In her book, she addresses the emotional challenges many young people face and draws from her personal faith to offer guidance and encouragement.

Her elder sister, Chiamaka Ononiwu, 20, is a final-year medical student at Babcock University in Nigeria. She penned Waterfalls, a heartfelt and deeply spiritual work she describes as divinely inspired. Chiamaka views her writing as a calling — a mission to uplift souls and bring hope to those struggling with life’s challenges.

“Personally, I would say it all started with the idea of inclusion, inspired by real human experiences,” Chiamaka shared. “We’ve had conversations with people who’ve gone through difficult situations — including issues and those stories helped shape what I write today.”

She added, “It’s all about encouraging people to face life with faith. We began this journey during a dark time in the world, and I felt called to create something that could offer comfort and hope — not just locally, but globally.”

The official book launch and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. It was a celebration of creativity, faith, and youthful brilliance, as the sisters presented their work to an inspired audience.

Speaking at the event, Chiamaka emphasized the core message of her book: “Waterfalls reminds readers that God is always watching over His people. He doesn’t bring fear — He brings peace, hope, and love. I want readers to find comfort and assurance in that truth.”

For Chiamanda, her book is a message to young people who may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: “Do Not Be Afraid is especially for youth navigating difficult times. No matter how hard life gets, you can always find strength and direction in God’s word.”

Writing came naturally to both sisters. Chiamaka recalled, “Even as a child, I loved writing short stories for my siblings. When the opportunity came to publish, I knew it was time to share my message with a wider audience.”

Despite their demanding academic paths, both young women balanced their studies with writing through perseverance and faith.

Chiamanda and Chiamaka are united by a shared dream — to inspire people across the world with their writing.

Chiamaka expressed Further; “Our biggest hope is that these books will reach people who need to know that God is real, that He’s always with them, and that through Him, anything is possible,” Chiamaka said.

With Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls, the Ononiwu sisters have not only created literary works — they’ve created lifelines. Their voices, grounded in faith and driven by purpose, remind readers everywhere that even in the darkest moments, God’s light never fades.

Their father, Dr. Charles Ononiwu — a distinguished surgeon and deeply devoted parent — also spoke at the event, sharing the journey from his perspective.

“For me, my number one priority has always been to care for children — not just medically, but also by encouraging them academically and in the basics of life,” he said.

He recounted a moving moment with Chiamanda, who approached him with the idea of sharing her story publicly to inspire others.

“She came to me and said she wanted to talk to her peers, to share how she had been comforted, and to help them see that everything would be okay,” he recalled. “As a father, my role was to guide her. I support both of them, help activate their strengths, and provide direction.”

Dr. Ononiwu made the decision to fund the publication of their books himself, believing in the power of their message.

“I told them, ‘You have something the world needs. You can make an impact in the lives of others,’” he said. “I believe every child has a gift. It is our responsibility as parents not to dismiss them, but to help them discover and nurture their talents.”

He encouraged all parents to support their children’s creative pursuits, noting, “Every person has something special inside them — no one is without talent. It’s just a matter of looking inward, discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world.”

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