The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), has reiterated the call on the Federal Government to resuscitate the textile and manufacturing industry in the country.
Mr. John Adaji, NUTGTWN President, said this during the opening ceremony of the Third Annual National Education Conference of the union on Wednesday in Abuja.
Adaji said that the resuscitation of the sector would create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the country.
According to Adaji, President Muhammdu Buhari upon assumption of office in 2015, made promises that jobs will be created by his administration as part of efforts to revive the economy.
“He assured that his administration would resuscitate the textile industry, re-open the closed ones and attract new investments to reduce unemployment.
“Indeed there have been a number of new measures by the current administration aimed at the revival of textile industry within the context of the Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) policy.
“However, there is still a huge gap between policy pronouncement and implementation. Some of the problems confronting the industry still include; inadequate and costly electricity supply.
“Others are smuggling, poor patronage, poor infrastructure, high taxation, and interest rates and the depreciating value of the Naira,’’ he said.
He also said that as Nigeria braces up for the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), government must ensure maximum protection for local industries that fall within the national priorities.
He said Nigeria must insist on fair trade and must retain current and future jobs in the textile and garment industries.
Adaji also urged the government to ensure that the borders are properly managed to prevent a flood of illicit imports as well as the breaking and undermining of the rules of origin.
“Textile industry remains the key driver of sustainable jobs and development for most national economies of developing nations like Nigeria. The key to real transformation and economic recovery lies in manufacturing.
“The Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) sector in particular is crucial for strengthening economic recovery, boosting employment and creating wealth for Nigerians.
“As a matter of fact, worldwide, textile being the engine for industrialisation has always been jealously protected by all governments,” he said.
According to him, the objective of AfCFTA is not merely trading, rather, it is trading for the purpose of mutual, deeper, and wider growth, as well as industrialisation and jobs.
He added that this should occur on the basis of respect for workers and their rights and with strict compliance and respect to our national laws and the international labour standard.
On the 2023 general elections, he also said that for any candidate to get the votes of over three million members of its great union in the formal and informal sector, the candidate’s agenda for sustainable industrialisation, employment, and wealth generation must be clear.
He added that, importantly, “we must be sure of the plan to revive the labour-intensive textile industry and support for our members in the informal economy.
