By Michael Oche
National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) on Tuesday said if revived the Cotton, Textile and Garment Industry has the capacity to transform Nigeria’s economy, creating over 2 million jobs, improve internally generated revenue, reduce over $4 billion import bill incurred annually on textile and apparel, safeguard and earn foreign exchange for the country.
President of the union, Comrade John Adaji stated this while speaking at the 13th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the union in Abuja.
Adaji said the cotton, textile and garment sub-sector of the economy which used to be the second largest employer of labour after the public sector is on steady decline due to company closures and massive loss of jobs.
He said currently unrestrained smuggling and importation of textile products have become the order of the day
The union leader said the future of Nigeria and indeed Africa lies in manufacturing, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure a friendly business environment, stable macro-economic policy, consistent, clear and focused industrial strategy that will provide support and incentives for manufacturing activities, value addition and decent job creation in the country.
According to him, Nigeria will be well positioned to trade in fabrics and benefit from the $3 trillion Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as well as the United State of America’s Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade agreement if the vision of revival of textile industry is realized
He said, “We commend the determination of Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to change the narrative of the nation’s manufacturing sector and create mass decent jobs through sustainable industrialization. This requires committed action on the part of the government, employers and workers.
“Our hope is that President Tinubu will take all necessary measures to ensure a friendly business environment, stable macro-economic policy, consistent, clear and focused industrial strategy that will provide support and incentives for manufacturing activities, ensure value addition and decent job creation in the country. The future of Nigeria and indeed Africa lies in manufacturing and adding value to our abundant raw materials.
“I have no doubt that this Conference would come up with more robust recommendations on what the current administration can do differently to fully revive the CTG sector and improve the life of citizens. If the vision of revival of the textile industry is realized, Nigeria will be well positioned to trade in fabrics and benefit from the $3 trillion Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as well as the United State of America’s Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade agreements”.
speaking further, Comrade Adaji disclosed that since the inception of the new democratic dispensation in Nigeria and following consistent advocacy by the union, successive administrations have demonstrated interest in reviving the labour-intensive cotton, textile and garment industry, stressing that there is a huge gap between policy pronouncement and actual policy implementation.
”The importance of industry cannot be over-emphasized. The key to real transformation and economic recovery lies in manufacturing. The Textile Industry alone if fully in operation has the capacity to create millions of direct decent jobs thereby bridging the huge unemployment gap in the country.
“Over the years, the capacity of the industry has diminished drastically coupled with large scale job losses which have created a pool of unemployed Nigerians with corresponding high poverty levels and increase in crime rates.
