THE WHISTLEBLOWING AS A CATALYST TO SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW

Authors

  • Sodiq O. Babatunde Department of Business Administration, Al-Hikimah University, deta Rd, 240281, Ilorin, Nigeria
  • Saheed Ademola Lateef Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin Malaysia, Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Wahid D. Olanipekun College of MIT, American International University West Africa, University in Serekunda, The Gambia
  • Haorayau B. Babalola Department of Business Administration, Osun State University, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37231/apj.2021.4.2.295

Abstract

Abstract: Whistle-blowing activities around the world have generated huge interests from concerned parties such as the financial and public service, as the aftermath of its neglect often has dilapidating effects on the sustainability of economic growth and development of the nation. This is often seen in the 3rd world nations, such as Nigeria. This study aimed to examine the existing phenomenon between whistle-blowing, economic sustainability, growth and development of Nigeria. This study adopted the Theory of Planned Behavior. However, this was a literature review study that basically draws inferences from studies in this field from different continents (i.e. Europe, America, Asia and Africa). Consequently, the objective of this study was to conceptually investigate the whistle-blowing activities in Nigeria as to how it has assisted in curbing corruption in the public space in turn and improving the economic growth and development. In furtherance, this study reviewed events in African countries with close indexation with Nigeria. Therefore, this study concludes that whistle-blowing has a direct impact on sustainable economic growth and development of Nigeria. This is evident in the Transparency International index report. Lastly, this study recommends that whistleblowing policy should be properly implemented in public institutions to achieve minimum involvement of corruption in the country and that whistleblowers should be protected to encourage disclosure of corrupt acts in the public sector. This in turn will assist in the attainment of sustainable economic growth and development.

Keyword: Whistleblowing, sustainable economic growth, theory of planned behaviour

References

Ab-Ghani, N., Galbreath, J. & Evans, R. (2011). Work experience and whistle blowing intention: The mediating role of ethical reasoning. Curtin Graduate School of Business, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.

Ahmad, S. A., Ismail, I. S., Azmi, N. A. & Zakaria, N. B. (2014). Methodological issues in whistle-blowing intentions research: Addressing the social desirability bias and order effect bias. Procedia - Social and Behavioural Sciences, 145, 204 – 210.

Ahmad, S. A., Smith, M. & Ismail, Z. (2012). Internal whistle-blowing intentions: A study of demographic and individual factors. Journal of Modern Accounting and Auditing, 8(11), 1632-1645.

Akomea-Frimpong, I., & Andoh, C. (2020). Understanding and controlling financial fraud in the drug industry. Journal of Financial Crime.

Alleyne, P. & Pierce, A. (2017). Whistle blowing as a corporate governance mechanism in the Caribbean. In Bissessar, A. and Ryan, S. (Eds.), Snapshots in Governance: The Caribbean Experience. 176-198.

Alleyne, P., Hudaib, M. & Pike, R. (2013). Towards a conceptual model of whistle blowing intentions among external auditors. The British Accounting Review, 45, 10 23.

Andonie, L. (2017). Whistle blower protection programs compromise the reported taxpayer’s privacy. Compliance Elliance Journal, 3(1), 63-73.

Begum, A. (2020). Corruption in business: A critical appraisal of the Australian regulatory regime in the light of the UK Bribery Act 2010.

Brevini, B. (2017). Metadata laws, journalism and resistance in Australia. Media and Communication, 5(1), 76–83. DOI: 10.17645/mac.v5i1.810

Caillier, J. G. (2017). An examination of the role whistle-blowing education plays in the whistle-blowing process. The Social Science Journal, 54, 4–12.

Canadian case, (N.A.). visitwww.fairwhistleblower.ca.

Chung, J., Monroe, G. S. & Thorne, L. (2004). An examination of factors affecting external and internal whistle-blowing by auditors. The University of NSW School of Accounting Conference, 26th March, 2004.

Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway (1992). Commission, Internal Control Integrated Framework (Coopers & Lybrand), 81-92.

Dasgupta, S., & Kesharwani, A. (2010). Whistle blowing: a survey of literature. The Journal of Corporate Governance, 9(4), 1-15.

De Maria, W. (2005). Whistle blower protection: Is Africa ready?. Public Administration Development, 25(3), 217-226.

Dorasamy, N. (2012). Institutionalising a whistle blowing culture within higher education institutions: policy and procedure underpinning good governance at the Durban University of Technology. Journal of Economics and Behavioural Studies, 4(9), 505-514.

Dorasamy, N. (2013). Good governance and whistle blowing: A case of a higher education institution (HEI) in South Africa. Journal of Social Sciences, 34(2), 105-114.

Dowd, A., Hayers, J. & Cohen, D. (2010), British Medical Journal, 340(7756), 1110-1113.

Epstein, A. (2005). whistle-blowing and the continued expansion of Title IX in Jackson V Birningham Board of Education, Willamette Sports Law Journal, 3(1),1-20.

Gokce, A. T. (2013b). Prospective teachers’ attitudes toward whistle-blowing according to type of intelligence Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(4), 11-24.

Gokce, A. T. (2103a). Teachers’ value orientations as determinants of preference for external and anonymous whistle blowing. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 3(4), 163-173.

Gupta, C. M., & Kumar, D. (2020). Identity theft: a small step towards big financial crimes. Journal of Financial Crime.

He, J. (2020). Corruption and anti-corruption in China: a case study of high-ranking officials. Journal of Financial Crime.

Hoffman, W., & McNulty, R. E. (2010). A business ethics theory of whistle blowing: responding to the $1 trillion question. In M. Arszulowicz & W. Gasparski (Eds.), Defense of proper action: the whistle-blowing 45-60. New Jersey: Transaction Publisher.

Irish case, (n.a.). see: www.tribune.ie/business/article/2009/may/24/whistleblowermcerlean is-vindicated/.

Jubb, P. B. (1999). Whistle blowing: A restrictive definition and interpretation. Journal of Business Ethics, 21(1), 77-94.

Krambia-Kapardis, M. (2020). An exploratory empirical study of whistleblowing and whistleblowers. Journal of Financial Crime.

Kumar, S. (2016). Whistle blowing: Truth to power. International Journal of InterdisciplinaryResearch Centre, 2(2), 1-12.

Lim, C. R., Zhang, M. W. B., Hussain, S. F. & Ho, R. C. M. (2017). The consequences of whistle-blowing: An integrative review. Journal of Patient Safety, 1-6

Lucas, N. & Koerwer, V. S. (2004). Featured interview Sherron Watkins, former Vice President of corporate development for Enron. Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, 11(1), 38–47.

Malunga, A. K. (2015). Whistle-blowing in South Africa: Empowering whistleblowers in South Africa-dealing with intimidation and strengthening people and institutions. Published by Public Protector, South Africa.

Mawanga, F. (2014). Perceived retaliation against internal whistleblowers: Evidence from public Institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Electronic Journal of Business Ethics and Organization Studies, 19(1), 19-26.

Miceli, M. P., Near, J. P. & Schwenk, C. R. (1991). Who blows the whistle and why?. Industrial and Labour Relations Review, 45, 113-130.

Miceli, M. P., Near, J. P., Rehg, M. T.& Van Scotter, J. R. (2012). Predicting employee reactions to perceived organizational wrongdoing: Demoralization, justice, proactive personality, and whistle-blowing. Human Relations, 65(8) 923–954.

Mustapha, M. & Siaw, L. S. (2012). Whistle blowing: Perceptions of future accountants. 2012 International Conference on Economics, Business Innovation, 38, 135-139.

Near, J. P. & Miceli, M. P. (1996). Whistle-blowing: myth and reality. Journal of Management, 22(3), 507-526.

Nwozor, A., Olanrewaju, J. S., Oshewolo, S., & Ake, M. B. (2020). Is Nigeria really fighting to win the anti-corruption war?. Journal of Financial Crime.

Okori, U. (2010). Corruption in Africa South of the Sahara: Bureaucratic facilitator or handicap to development. The Journal of Pan African Studies, 3(6), 21-32.

Onakoya, O. A. & Moses, C. L. (2016). Effect of System Factors on Whistle blowing Attitude of Nigerian Banks Employees: A Conceptual Perspective. 3rd International Conference on African Development Issues (CU-ICADI 2016) Covenant University Press. 300-307.

Open Democracy Advice Centre in South Africa, (n.a). Retrieved October 1, 2021, from www.environmentconservation.org.za/environmental_protection_activities_libraden php.

Owusu, G. M. Y., Bekoe, R. A., Anokye, F. K., & Okoe, F. O. (2020). Whistleblowing intentions of accounting students. Journal of Financial Crime.

Pillay, S., Kluvers, R. & Reedy, P. S. (2011). Factors influencing whistle-blowing in South African Local Government. Faculty of Business and Enterprise Swinburne University Hawthorn.

Premlata, A. Ankshika, K. & Agarwal, S. (2014). Blowing the facts- whistle blowing policy in India. Research Directions, 1(7), 33-42.

Raza, M. S., Zhan, Q., & Rubab, S. (2020). Role of money mules in money laundering and financial crimes a discussion through case studies. Journal of Financial Crime.

Saddiq, S. A., & Bakar, A. S. A. (2020). Persistence of bribery in West African countries. Journal of Financial Crime, 3(1), 12-23.

Sahara Reporters (2015, February 8). How the Army was used to rig election in Ekiti for Governor Ayo Fayose-Nigerian Army Captain who secretly recorded Ekiti Rigging Plan Explodes. Retrieved October 1, 2021, from http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/08/how-the-army-was-used-to-rig-election-in-ekiti

Sahara Reporters (2017, April 12). EFCC uncovered $43.4m, n23.2m, 27800, at ikoyi apartment. Visit: http//www.saharareporters.com-2017/04/12/EFCC-uncovered $43.4m,-n23.2m,-27800,-ikoyi-apartment. Retrieved on 10th December, 2018.

Sarbanes P. & Oxley, M. (2002). Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Washington, D.C.: US Congress.

Shahid, A. U. (2015). A descriptive study of association of whistle blowing activities and auditing practices in listed companies of Lahore Stock Exchange. American Journal of Economics, Finance and Management, 1(3), 136-152.

Sharif, Z. (2015). Intention towards whistle-blowing among internal auditors in the U.K. (Doctoral thesis, University of Huddersfield). Available from Ethos Theses database.

Sule, I. (2007). Whistle blowing and the employee’s obligations under the contract of employment: A critique of Nigeria’s position. Selected works. Available at:http://works.bepress.com/ibrahim_sule/5/. Retrieved on October 10, 2016.

Swiatek-Barylska, I. (2013). Whistle blowing as a symptom of employee loyalty – Polish perspective. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 4(15) 49-57.

Taiwo, S. F. (2015). Effects of whistle blowing practices on organizational performance in the Nigerian public sector: Empirical Facts from selected Local Government in Lagos & Ogun State. Journal of Marketing and Management, 6(1), 41-61.

Transparency International (2010). Whistle blowing: an effective tool in the fight against corruption. Retrieved October 1, 2021, from http://www.transparency.org.

Transparency International (2016). Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2021, from http://www.transparency.org.

Transparency International (2017). Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2021, from http://www.transparency.org.

Downloads

Published

2021-10-31

How to Cite

THE WHISTLEBLOWING AS A CATALYST TO SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW. (2021). Asian People Journal (APJ), 4(2), 104-115. https://doi.org/10.37231/apj.2021.4.2.295