Inaugural lecture: Don advocates whistleblowing, ICT to tackle workplace corruption

By Saheed Ibrahim
A professor of Industrial and Organisational Psychology at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Bolanle Ogungbamila, has called for the adoption of whistleblowing and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools to tackle corruption in workplaces.

Speaking at the university’s 32nd Inaugural Lecture, titled “My Lord, I Am Corrupt for a Just Cause”, on 14 January 2025, Prof. Ogungbamila underscored the importance of integrity, fairness, and transparency in organisational policies and practices.
“Organisations must make integrity, fairness, and transparency the foundation of their policies and processes. Using modern ICT tools for regular and thorough auditing should extend beyond financial matters to encompass all workplace operations and decisions,” he said.

The professor defined workplace corruption as the misuse of office, power, and privileges for personal gain, advocating for robust checks and balances to mitigate such practices.
On combating corruption, he recommended establishing specialised units within Human Resource departments to address diversity, inclusion, and justice concerns, alongside maintaining clear communication channels.



“Information about workplace corruption and anti-corruption efforts should flow efficiently through lateral, horizontal, upward, and downward channels. This ensures employees align their moral obligations with the organisation’s ethical standards,” he added.
He highlighted the role of consistent feedback mechanisms and ethical frameworks in fostering integrity while deterring unethical conduct.

“Organisations should instill punishment anxiety among employees by implementing consistent, fair, and prompt systems for addressing misconduct. Employees also need moral role models and an environment that nurtures their ethical competencies. Employees should be encouraged and be provided with a conducive atmosphere that promotes moral competencies and the needed opportunities to mirror the thoughts and actions of physical and virtual moral role models,” Prof. Ogungbamila said.
He further urged organisations to proactively evaluate and improve their reward and punishment systems, as well as ethical training programmes, to align with evolving ethical demands in workplaces and society.
On whistleblowing, he emphasised its importance as a tool against corruption while cautioning against its misuse.
“While incentivising whistleblowing, organisations must tread carefully to avoid a cobra effect – where employees report false claims solely for financial rewards. Whistleblowers must feel protected against retaliation, and Nigeria urgently needs robust laws to safeguard them and their families,” he warned.
He also advocated for simplifying whistleblowing procedures and providing practical training for employees to improve their capacity to report unethical behaviour.
Prof. Ogungbamila recommended that media reports on workplace corruption highlight the societal impact of misappropriated funds. “Such reports should focus on how stolen resources could have enhanced the organisation and the community’s well-being. Highlighting the negative economic and psychological consequences of corruption will foster a deeper understanding of its harm,” he noted.
He further stressed the need for organisations to promote accountability, transparency, fairness, trust, confidentiality, shared responsibility, and open communication. He urged employers to consistently reward employees for integrity and honesty.
“Organisations should award Work Integrity and Accountability Fellowship (WIAF) to employees who display high levels of personal integrity and accountability. WIAF will further promote and build the capacity of the Fellows as anti-corruption, integrity, and accountability change agents in the workplace. Individually and collectively, the increasing number of the WIA Fellows will increase anti-corruption activism and encourage whistleblowing,” he said.
In his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor and chairman of the occasion, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, commended Prof. Ogungbamila’s academic contributions and commitment to research.
“Prof. Ogungbamila is a scholar of remarkable repute, with over 40 international journal publications and co-authorship in several books. This lecture challenges us to rethink conventional narratives and inspires us to adopt innovative solutions to societal issues,” Prof. Ige said.