The National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) has urged the Federal Government to urgently revive the country’s textile industry, saying the sector remains important to job creation, industrialisation and economic diversification.
The union made the call at the First Abubakar D.O. Abutu Memorial Lecture organised by the Commonwealth Society of Nigeria in Abuja.
The event also honoured the late labour leader, Abubakar D.O. Abutu, for his contributions to workers’ welfare, organised labour and national development.
Speaking at the event, NUTGTWN President, Peters Godonu, said the late labour leader’s legacy remained relevant to the continued struggle for workers’ dignity, social justice and economic development.
Godonu, who was represented by the union’s Deputy President, Umar Mohammed, specifically called for the revival of Kaduna Textile Limited (KTL), describing the company as an important part of Nigeria’s industrial history.
He said reviving the company would go beyond reopening a factory, noting that it would demonstrate the country’s commitment to industrial growth, local production, job creation and economic diversification.
According to him, the textile industry is one of the major labour-intensive manufacturing sectors globally and played an important role in Nigeria’s economy at its peak.
He noted that textile factories provided jobs, developed technical skills and supported communities in Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Katsina, Zamfara and other parts of the country.
Godonu said the collapse of the industry had consequences beyond the closure of factories, as it resulted in the loss of jobs, technical skills, industrial capacity, local supply chains and economic opportunities, particularly for young Nigerians.
He, however, said Nigeria still had the resources and market needed to rebuild a strong textile and garment industry.
He listed the country’s large domestic market, cotton-growing potential, sizeable workforce, technical expertise, growing fashion industry, youthful population and access to the wider African market as some of the advantages that could support the sector’s revival.
The union therefore urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to restore the textile industry and create an environment that would encourage investment, strengthen local production and provide sustainable employment opportunities.
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