From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The National Union of Textile, Garment, and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) has expressed l appreciation for former President Muhammadu Buhari, recognizing him not only as a former Head of State but also as a leader who showed a clear commitment to decent work, job creation, and the revival of industry in Nigeria.
This recognition was conveyed in a statement signed by Peter Godonu, President, and Ali Baba, Secretary General of the Union, and shared with the media in Kaduna.
The Union said that President Buhari’s administration acknowledged the manufacturing sector as a crucial driver of economic development, noting that he was the first president to effectively raise the prospects of reviving Nigeria’s labor-intensive textile industry to create significant employment opportunities.
“During the 2015 presidential election campaign, he was arguably the only candidate to prominently feature textile revival as a major issue,” the statement noted. “In a meeting with a delegation of foreign investors, he stated, ‘I made a promise to Nigerians that jobs will be created as part of efforts to revive the economy, and that promise will be fulfilled. We will move as fast as we can to resuscitate the textile and mining industries, as well as improve production in our agricultural sector. We cannot allow industries and factories to close down. Instead, we must make every effort to reopen those that have closed and attract new ones to reduce unemployment.’”
As President of Nigeria, his administration’s policies and programs laid a solid foundation for reviving industries, particularly in the textile sector. Key measures included the establishment of a comprehensive Cotton, Textile, and Garment (CTG) policy aimed at revitalizing the entire value chain, from cotton growing to ginneries, spinning, weaving, printing, and garment production.
The Union also recalled President Buhari’s strong support for Executive Order 003, which prioritized the use of local content in public procurement, ensuring made-in-Nigeria products, including uniforms for military and paramilitary agencies. This policy increased demand for locally produced textiles and garments, bringing renewed hope to our members and factories.
His administration collaborated with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide financial support and intervention programs for struggling industries, including the textile and garment sector. The introduction of a textile revival fund and restrictions on foreign exchange for the importation of textile materials under his leadership aimed to create jobs and enhance local production. These were significant steps towards restoring Nigeria’s once-thriving textile industry.
President Buhari was also the first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to meet with the leadership of our union on July 23, 2019. During this meeting, he reaffirmed his commitment to transforming the textile sector from one marked by factory closures to a “bold revival effort that will restore the glory days of the cotton, textile, and garment sectors.”
In recognition of his commendable efforts to revive the textile industry, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union conferred upon President Buhari the title of Honorary Member of the Union.
“On behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC) and all our members, we would like to express our deepest respect and heartfelt condolences to his family, the Daura Emirate Council, the government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the people of Nigeria,” the statement concluded.
