National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) has commended the Federal Government for the closure of Nigeria’s land borders to end smuggling of goods into the country.
Mr Issa Aremu, General Secretary, of the association while speaking at the 31st National Education Conference said the move was impressive, as it was aiding local production and consumption of goods.
According to him, garment industries have been boosted in the country, saying there is the need to sustain current efforts and support the Nigeria Customs Service to fight smuggling.
“We will like to commend the efforts of the Federal Government in the closure of its land borders, this has helped in total overhaul of textile and garment industries in the country.
“It is already on record that the textile industries are now making money, smugglers and importers have gone into hiding, border closure should not be permanent, but should be sustained for the mean time.”
Aremu said that in 31 years of the union’s existence, industrial peace and harmony had been sustained through the principles of collective bargaining.
He noted that the association had also signed 46 national agreements for development.
He said there was the need for the ITF to increase its intervention on worker’s training and skills development, saying this was necessary as the future of work was being threatened by technology.
Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari on has mandated the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make special funds available for the local production of textiles and garments in the country.
Buhari who declared the Conference open was represented by the President, represented by Prof. Segun Ajiboye, Registrar, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria,
He also called on the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to facilitate training of Textile Workers to sustain current efforts at improving local garments production in the country.
He noted that the administration was committed towards improving the industries in the country with the signing of the executive order 003.
