Whistleblower Protection and Anti-Corruption Effectiveness in Anambra State Public Institutions

Whistleblower protection frameworks are increasingly recognised as essential complements to anti-corruption strategies, incentivising disclosure of misconduct while shielding informants from retaliation. This study examines the relationship between whistleblower protection mechanisms and anti-corruption effectiveness in selected Anambra State public institutions. The study is anchored on the Accountability Theory, which holds that systemic transparency and disclosure mechanisms are foundational to governing corruption and maintaining institutional integrity. A survey research design was employed. The population comprised civil servants, compliance officers, and officials of the Anambra State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, from which 220 respondents were drawn using stratified random sampling. A structured questionnaire was the primary data collection instrument, and data were analysed using Pearson correlation and regression. Findings indicate that awareness of whistleblower protection laws among civil servants is low, and fear of victimisation remains the dominant reason for non-disclosure of observed corruption. Institutions with visible internal disclosure channels recorded higher incident reporting rates. The study concludes that whistleblower protection in Anambra State remains underdeveloped, limiting the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts. It is recommended that the state government enact a state-level whistleblower protection law, establish a confidential reporting hotline, and conduct civil service awareness campaigns on the rights and processes available to reporting officers.

Keywords: Whistleblower Protection, Anti-Corruption, Accountability, Civil Service, Anambra State