SEO Riders:
- – African unions and civil society demand end to utility privatisations
- Call for adoption of Public-Public Partnerships in essential service sectors* Criticism of IFI-driven privatisation models in Africa’s public utilities
At a recent regional meeting in Abuja, trade unions and civil society organizations from Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda called on African governments to reverse existing privatisations in the water, electricity, and waste sectors. They also urged a halt to ongoing or planned discussions on the privatisation of public assets. The meeting, convened by Public Services International (PSI) in collaboration with DGB Bildungswerk Bund (DGB BW), emphasized that profit-driven models like Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) undermine universal access to essential services and violate human rights.
Participants advocated for the adoption of Public-Public Partnerships (PUPs) as a democratic and socially just alternative, highlighting their success in delivering quality public services without profit motives. They also called for increased investment in public sector human capital, including training and retention of workers, to enhance efficiency and transparency. The coalition criticized the influence of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) like the World Bank and IMF, accusing them of promoting privatisation under the guise of efficiency and reform, despite evidence of systemic failures in such models across Africa.
