Corruption has remained a persistent challenge undermining governance, accountability, and public trust in Nigeria’s democratic system since 1999. In response, whistle-blowing has emerged as a strategic anti-corruption mechanism designed to enhance transparency, promote citizen participation, and strengthen institutional accountability. This study examines the effectiveness of whistle-blowing as an anti-corruption tool in Nigeria’s democracy from 1999 to 2025, analyzing awareness, effectiveness, institutional responsiveness, socio-cultural constraints, and policy outcomes. Adopting a mixed-methods research design, The findings reveal that while whistle-blowing has significantly contributed to the detection of corrupt practices and the recovery of misappropriated public funds, its effectiveness is largely influenced by institutional responsiveness, public awareness, and the availability of reporting mechanisms. However, persistent challenges such as fear of retaliation, weak legal protections, socio-cultural constraints, and limited trust in public institutions continue to hinder optimal participation. The study further demonstrates that financial incentives alone are insufficient to sustain whistle-blowing practices without complementary legal safeguards and organizational reforms. Anchored on Institutional Theory, Principal-Agent Theory, and Participatory Governance, the study concludes that strengthening whistle-blowing requires a holistic approach that integrates robust legal frameworks, integrating Institutional, behavioral capacity building, and active citizen engagement. The study recommends comprehensive policy reforms, enhanced whistle-blower protection laws, and sustained public awareness campaigns to improve anti-corruption outcomes in Nigeria and offers empirical and theoretical insights relevant to public administration, anti-corruption policy, and governance studies.
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- Dr Evelyn Chikaodili Nwankwo (Autor), 2026, Whistle-Blowing as an Anti-Corruption Mechanism in Nigeria’s Democracy (1999–2025), Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1718455
