Trade unions in Africa led by the International Trade union confederation Africa regional office, the Nigeria labour congress, NLC in collaboration with civil society groups and journalists across Africa are pushing for governments to set up what they call the “committee of the willing” to wage war against kleptocracy and illicit financial flows.
This was the consensus at a 3-day multi-stakeholder dialogue on strengthening whistleblower protection, civic space and anti-kleptocracy accountability in Nigeria.
AIT.live gathered that a major worry for the groups is that only twelve countries in Africa out of 54, excluding Nigeria have laws on the protection of whistleblowers
According to the African Development Bank, Africa loses more than $580 billion every year through corruption, illicit financial flows, profit shifting, and capital leakages, which is about $1.6 billion every single day
While referencing the Thabo Mbeki Panel Report which found a conservative figure of $50 billion lost to Africa every year through Illicit Financial Flows, the trade union whistleblower campaigners and the civil society groups say about two third of the amount comes from manipulation of commercial transactions like tax evasion, tax avoidance, budget padding and fantom projects
The case of an alleged fake federal agency in Nigeria was prominent in deliberations among the anti-corruption campaigners with calls demanding thorough investigation and protection of whistleblowers.
These groups are also making vows that the perspectives and campaigns from previous efforts will be more intensive as citizens are burdened and ravaged daily with corruption, resource leakages and governance ineffectiveness
Accroding to Organisers such gatherings must be encouraged by good-spirited citizens and leaders as it promotes intensive dialogue and engagement on the very issues that have eroded the prosperity of Nigerian Workers and Nigerians at large.
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Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu
