International Journal of Social Science Studies Vol. 7, No. 2; March 2019 ISSN 2324-8033 E-ISSN 2324-8041 Published by Redfame Publishing URL: http://ijsss.redfame.com 1 Whistleblowing in a Depraved Nigerian Economy: Challenges and Prospects Ayamba, Itojong Anthony 1 1 Department of Public Administration, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria Correspondence: Ayamba, Itojong Anthony, Department of Public Administration, University of Calabar, Calabar- Nigeria. Received: October 26, 2018 Accepted: January 14, 2019 Available online: January 18, 2019 doi:10.11114/ijsss.v7i2.3978 URL: https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v7i2.3978 Abstract Corruption in Nigeria, as in several other countries across the globe, is a serious scourge that continues to expose the country to developmental setbacks in the political, economic and social facets. Apart from the unquantifiable financial resources lost annually to corruption in the private and public sectors, almost all of Nigeria‟s security, social, ethnic, political and religious conflicts can be traced to corruption directly or indirectly. Whistleblowing, as an anti-corruption mechanism, has proven to be effective in many parts of the world. This paper, from a background of rentierism, attempts to examine the epistemology of Nigeria‟s whistleblowing policy as well as the effectiveness, limitations, and justifications for the enhancement of the policy. The descriptive design was employed as the methodology of the study. Data were obtained mainly from secondary sources. The Theory of Two Publics was employed as theoretical framework for the study. The paper identifies insufficient legal knowledge, fear of reprisals, lack of meaningful litigation, prebendalism/loyalty provisions, and cultural and historical barriers as some of the challenges of whistleblowing in Nigeria. The paper submits that the policy, though a viable one, but yet to get the backing of an enabling law as at the time of this study, should be delicately formulated, assertively promoted to the public, and speedily sent to the National Assembly for consideration and passage. Keywords: corruption, anti-corruption, whistleblowing, rentierism, policy 1. Introduction The problem of development in Nigeria today is not necessarily as a result of the scarcity of human and/or material resources. The lack or slow development in Nigeria can be attributed to the interminable pursuit among Nigerians to maintain or gain undue advantage(s) over fellow Nigerians. This is the foundation of ethnic politics, the basis for the separation between the elite and non-elite, between the poor and the rich, etc. which usually manifests in the insertion of additional but fraudulent transactions geared towards altering the standard trajectory of events and abusing positions of trust. The result of this can be summed up in one word: “corruption.” The pursuit of Nigerians to gain or maintain advantages for themselves over other Nigerians and its resultant manifestation- corruption is the reason why successive governments in Nigeria have left a litany of public and private institutions, frameworks and initiatives to address the menace. Though some successes have been made over the years, the war against corruption in Nigeria has remained largely ineffective and made worse by the nonexistence of a coordinated strategy to the many initiatives to combat corruption in the country. Corruption, according to Otite (1986), simply means “the pervasion of integrity or state of affairs through bribery, favours or moral depravity.” When two or more persons have acted together to alter the structure of society or the behaviour of functionaries so as to bring about dishonest and debased situations, one may say that corruption has taken place. Section 46 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2004 also considers corruption to include the following: non-violent criminal and illicit activity committed with the objective of earning wealth illegally either individually or in a group or organized manner thereby violating existing legislation governing the economic activities of governments and its administration and includes any form of fraud, narcotic drug trafficking, money laundering, embezzlement, bribery, looting and any form of corrupt practices, illegal arms deals, smuggling, human trafficking and child labour, illegal oil bunkering, illegal mining, tax evasion, foreign