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‘N70bn textile revival fund can’t develop our generator driven economy’
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Labour has commended the federal government for its efforts to revive the textile sector but optimistic that the fund may not revive about 200 moribund companies in a generator driven economy where smuggled products are still everywhere in the market.
President General of the Trade Union Congress, Peter Isueli, said “The textile revival fund is commendable but the funds may not revive the sector as the sector is faced with infrastructure problems. The sector had over 200 moribund in the past and sent over 200,000 people into the labour market.
He however urged government to ensure that the funds are judiciously disbursed to the appropriate and call on government infrastructure such as power is taken as a matter urgent need.”
Inconsistency in government policies was also identified as one basic issue that need to be resolved to revive the sector.
To Oladele Hunsu, the first national deputy president of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), “The problem of inconsistency in government policies is one basic issue that needs to be resolved, especially policies concerning the textile industry. The problem of the industry has gone beyond money,”
Since the pronouncement of N70-billion by former president Obasanjo’s administration to revival the textile industry, raising the fund has remain a problem as the challenge of the industry goes beyond money because, when the basic infrastructure such as regular power supply are not there to boost production the money may still be invested in the sector and be spent on infrastructure which should have been provided by government.
The sector in the past was the largest employer of labour after government as it employed over one million Nigerians and secured captive market of 250,000 tons of raw cotton for growers and generates over N1 billion revenue to federal government of Nigeria. It was also a major consumer of high percentage of local raw materials such as cotton and polyester.
Hunsu, however urged government consolidate its commendable policy of ban by setting up a task force consisting of stakeholders to assist customs in ensuring effective implementation.
President General of the Trade Union Congress, Peter Isueli, said “The textile revival fund is commendable but the funds may not revive the sector as the sector is faced with infrastructure problems. The sector had over 200 moribund in the past and sent over 200,000 people into the labour market.
He however urged government to ensure that the funds are judiciously disbursed to the appropriate and call on government infrastructure such as power is taken as a matter urgent need.”
Inconsistency in government policies was also identified as one basic issue that need to be resolved to revive the sector.
To Oladele Hunsu, the first national deputy president of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), “The problem of inconsistency in government policies is one basic issue that needs to be resolved, especially policies concerning the textile industry. The problem of the industry has gone beyond money,”
Since the pronouncement of N70-billion by former president Obasanjo’s administration to revival the textile industry, raising the fund has remain a problem as the challenge of the industry goes beyond money because, when the basic infrastructure such as regular power supply are not there to boost production the money may still be invested in the sector and be spent on infrastructure which should have been provided by government.
The sector in the past was the largest employer of labour after government as it employed over one million Nigerians and secured captive market of 250,000 tons of raw cotton for growers and generates over N1 billion revenue to federal government of Nigeria. It was also a major consumer of high percentage of local raw materials such as cotton and polyester.
Hunsu, however urged government consolidate its commendable policy of ban by setting up a task force consisting of stakeholders to assist customs in ensuring effective implementation.
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