By: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, has called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to revitalise the textile industry to support the speedy revival of the country’s economy.
President of NUTGTWN, Comrade John Adaji made the call during a reception for stakeholders to celebrate the Christmas in Kaduna.
According to him, Nigeria’s textile industry was once a booming sector of the economy and was one of Africa’s largest industrial sectors.
He said that the sector was capable of producing an estimated 1.4 billion assorted textile items ranging from bed sheets, African prints to shirting materials, among others.
The NUTGTWN President added that the industry used to spread across the federation from Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Funtua, Asaba, Port-Harcourt and other areas.
Comrade Adaji added the industry was plagued by government policy summersaults, poor infrastructure and high cost of production, which had led to its inability to compete favourably with imported clothing items.
In view of this the NUTGTWN President said in the coming 2023 general elections, the members of the union will only cast their votes for any candidates with a blue print to revitalise the textile industry and industrialized the country.
He stressed that the Textile workers will not continue to line behind any government that its actions support relocation and closure of the Textile factories which had caused revenue and job losses.
Comrade Adaji explained that in the 1980s, the textile industry was the second largest employer of labour after the Federal Government, a period that is wistfully regarded as the golden era of the industry.
He, however, said that the industry had been bedevilled by problems which included a dependence on imported raw materials, sourcing of foreign exchange and inadequate power supply.
