Adeosun Regrets Failure To Legalise Whistleblower Policy

Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has expressed regret over her inability to institutionalise the Federal Government’s whistleblower policy during her time in office.

The policy, introduced in December 2016 under the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, was part of efforts to combat corruption and encourage citizens to report financial misconduct.

Speaking at the second edition of the Citadel School of Government Dialogue Series in Lagos, Adeosun admitted that the initiative eventually faded because it lacked legislative backing.

According to her, policies that are not enshrined in law remain vulnerable to reversal by subsequent administrations.
“Government policies with legal backing become difficult to discard by those who may not favour them,” she said, stressing that reform-minded leaders must anticipate institutional resistance and devise strategies to overcome it.

Delivering a keynote address titled “The Rough Road to Reforms: The Risks, the Resistance, The Reprisals and the Resilient Leader,” Adeosun described the whistleblower policy as one of the notable achievements of the Buhari administration.

She noted that effective leadership requires both resilience and empathy, adding that reformers must carry stakeholders along to ensure lasting impact.

On the issue of corruption, Adeosun said the problem is not unique to Nigeria but a global challenge, stressing that the country must focus on strengthening institutions to influence behaviour and reduce graft.

Also speaking at the event, Tunde Bakare, commended Adeosun for her continued contributions to national development despite past challenges.

Bakare described her as a committed public servant and praised her for maintaining integrity during her time in office.
“If she had not cleared her name, the stigma would have lingered. It is commendable that no illicit assets or funds were traced to her,” he said.

He added that the theme of the dialogue was timely, urging current and aspiring leaders to remain steadfast in pursuing reforms, even when results are not immediately evident.

The Executive Director of the Citadel School of Government, Omoaholo Omoakhalen, said the platform was designed to provide insights from experienced public officials.

He explained that Adeosun was selected to speak on reforms to guide emerging leaders, noting that Nigeria still requires broad-based reforms across multiple sectors.