The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) at the 100th National Administrative Council (NAC) And 86th Central Working Committee (CWC) Meeting Held On Wednesday 30th – Thursday 31st March 2022 At The Lagos Sub-Secretariat Of The Union

 

INTRODUCTION

  • The historic 100th National Administrative Council (NAC) and 86th Central Working Committee (CWC) Meetings of the Union held Wednesday 30th and Thursday 31st March, 2022 respectively at the union’s Lagos Sub-Secretariat, Adams Oshiomhole Hall, Textile Labour House, Ikeja Lagos. It was the first NAC and CWC Meetings by the union in the New Year, 2022.
  • The National Administrative Council (NAC) of the union meets quarterly. It is made up of the President, Deputy Presidents, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretaries and National Treasurer of the union.  At the last Delegates’ Conference of the Union in March 2020, the Constitution was amended to include the Chairperson of the Women Committee as a member of the National Administrative Council (NAC) as part of the union’s affirmative action.
  • Critical decisions as it affects the smooth running of the union are initiated and implemented at the level of the National Administration Council. It remains the think tank of the union for policy formulation and implementation.
  • The Union’s Central Working Committee (CWC) Meeting also holds quarterly. It is the highest Organ of the Union after the National Executive Council (NEC) and the National Delegates’ Conference.
  • Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Union is made up of the National President, Deputy Presidents, Vice Presidents or Zonal Council Chairpersons, National Treasurer, Internal Auditors, National Trustees, National Women Committee Chairperson, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretaries, Assistant General Secretaries and field Organising Secretaries of the union.
  • The Central Working Committee (CWC) is constitutionally empowered to review on a quarterly basis the activities of the union, formulate policies and issue directives for proper governance and administration of the union.
  • The 100th National Administrative Council (NAC) and 86th Central Working Committee (CWC) deliberated on the report of activities from the Zonal operations of the union across the country. It discussed extensively on the situation in the textile sector with regards to the economic and trade union rights of workers and the state of the Nation.
  • In particular the NAC and CWC as part of the union’s collaborative engagement with the Solidarity Center and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reviewed the progress and challenges of the union’s action against Gender-Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) in the Workplace and considered recommendations for integration of ILO Convention 190 in the union’s Constitution and Collective Bargaining Agreement.

 

RESOLUTIONS

The following are some of the resolutions adopted at the end of the 100th National Administrative Council (NAC) and 86th Central Working Committee (CWC) Meetings:

State of Industry

  • NAC and CWC of the union observed that inspite of the efforts to revive the industry, it is still confronted with many challenges that include unrestrained smuggling and counterfeiting of Made-in-Nigeria textiles, poor patronage inspite of Federal government Executive Order 003, inadequate and costly electricity supply, poor infrastructure, high taxation and interest rates, high cost of diesel and LPFO and the depreciating value of the naira.
  • It noted that the state of the industry particularly in the North is made worst by the heightened insecurity that is pushing away customers of the few existing industries in the North and also discouraging new investment in the area.
  • Emphasized that the government must do more to provide the enabling environment for the revival of textile industry in Nigeria and manufacturing activities in general.
  • Frowned at the Nigeria Customs Service for not effectively combating smuggling such that cheap smuggled textile products largely from China and other Asian countries continue to dominate the local market with little or no access for the locally produced textiles.
  • Called on the Nigeria Customs Service to be more patriotic and adopt new creative measures that must include consistent raids of the warehouses of smugglers in Kano, Lagos, Kaduna, Onitsha and other cities of the Federation.
  • Called for the establishment of a Presidential task-force made up of relevant stakeholders including the union with the power to confiscate goods smuggled into the country. Recalled that similar task-force existed during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
  • Observed that the promised benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, (AFCFTA) will elude Nigeria if the illegal imports of textile fabrics and other products Nigeria has the capacity to produce locally continue to find their way into the Nigerian markets unchecked.
  • Acknowledged some measures by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Bank of Industry (BOI) aimed at textile industry revival and called for urgent stakeholders Meeting that must include the Union to objectively review some of these measures to ascertain the level of success as well as the challenges.
  • Noted that one of the major problems of the industry has been lack of patronage inspite of the Federal Executive Order 003 on patronage of locally produced goods and called on relevant agencies of government to comply with the executive order by patronizing locally produced textiles to avert further factory closures and attendant loss of jobs.
  • Urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure holistic implementation of the Cotton Textile Garment (CTG) policy, noting that the textile industry remains a critical plank for addressing the current high level of unemployment and attendant security challenges in the Country.
  • A fully revived textile industry is capable of creating millions of jobs, address the security challenges in the country, improve internally generated revenue, reduce billions of dollars import bill incurred annually on textile and apparel, safeguard and earn foreign exchange for the country.
  • Urged the State governments to compliment Federal Government’s efforts through complimentary bold industrial policies that will revive closed factories in their localities such as provision of infrastructure, granting of genuine tax incentives and patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products.

Gender-Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) at Workplace

  • Reaffirmed the union’s zero tolerance to all forms of violence at the workplace including Gender-Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH).
  • Expressed appreciation to the Solidarity Centre for their support for the 100th National Administrative Council and the 86th Central Working Committee (CWC) as part of the ongoing partnership and collaboration between the union, the Solidarity Centre and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on workplace action against Gender Based Violence and Harassment.
  • Acknowledged the remarkable effort of the Solidarity Centre in building the union’s understanding, appreciation, capacity and competencies to address the issue of GBVH at the workplace.
  • Reviewed the impact of the activities on GBVH so far and approved the necessary recommendations for integration of the ILO Convention 190 languages in the union’s Constitution and Collective Bargaining Agreement.

 State of the Nation

  • Expressed concern on the intolerable state of insecurity in parts of the country and increasing wastage of human lives and properties by bandits and other criminal elements in the country.
  • Called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intensify effort on security as one of the critical pillars of his administration.
  • Noted that one of the root causes of insecurity is unemployment and called for radical measures to address the spate of unemployment in the country.
  • Called for the comprehensive review of the nation’s security architecture with more emphasis on intelligence gathering.
  • Expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of those that lost their lives in the unfortunate attack on the Abuja – Kaduna Train by bandits and prayed for the quick recovery of those that sustained injuries.
  • Called for a joint collaborative effort by security agencies to ensure immediate release of the abducted passengers.

ASUU STRIKE

  • Expressed solidarity with the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU).
  • Called on the Federal government to return to the negotiation table with the Union and address their demands to enable the students return to school.

 

 

John Adaji                                                                                     Ali Baba

    PRESIDENT                                                                             Ag. GENERAL SECRETARY