We are tracking 950 projects worth N415b, says ICPC
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that the country is steadily losing the battle against corruption and illicit financial flows (IFFs).

The warning came at a high-level meeting of trade unions and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) focused on strengthening coalitions to combat ‘kleptocracy’ and illicit financial flows, where labour leaders said the country’s anti-corruption framework had failed to deliver meaningful results.

Speaking at the event, the NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, described the situation as a war for the soul and wealth of Nigeria, noting that despite years of reforms and interventions, corruption remained deeply institutionalised.

Ugboaja, who was represented by the NLC Assistant Secretary-General, Onyeka Chris, cited findings from a labour-backed study that revealed corruption in Nigeria was no longer limited to isolated incidents but was driven by a system of kleptocracy, in which public institutions were captured and used to serve elite interests.

He explained that massive financial leakages, particularly through inflated contracts, weak regulatory systems, and capital flight, had deprived the country of critical resources needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and job creation.

The labour leader also criticised what he described as selective enforcement of anti-corruption laws, where low-level offenders were prosecuted while politically exposed persons evaded justice through influence and patronage.

He further warned that weak rule of law, compromised institutions, and constitutional protections, such as immunity clauses, have created a culture of impunity, allowing corruption to thrive unchecked.

In his remarks, the Deputy Regional Director for Africa at the Solidarity Centre, Margie Peters, said corruption and illicit financial flows posed a direct threat not only to economic stability but also to democracy and social development.

Peters noted that African countries continued to lose substantial revenue to illicit activities, weakening governments’ ability to provide basic services and protect vulnerable populations.

Representing the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, James Eustace, said civil society groups were intensifying advocacy for transparency, accountability, and fiscal justice, particularly in the implementation of tax policies and financial regulations.

Meanwhile, the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed that it tracked about 950 projects valued at approximately N415.25 billion across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory.