PREAMBLE
The 11th national delegates’ conference of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) took place at the Meena Event Centre, Lodge Road, Kano, Kano State from Wednesday 16th – Friday 19th March 2016. The Conference attracted over 600 delegates and observers drawn from textile factories and affiliated self-employed Tailors’ Associations throughout the Country and many invited guests. The host was the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN).
The Conference was preceded by National Administrative Council (NAC) and National Executive Council (NEC) meetings on Wednesday March 16, 2016.
OPENING CEREMONY
The 11th Delegates Conference was declared open by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Aminu Aliyu Bisalla. Special Guests include the host Governor, His Excellency, Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje ably represented by the Deputy Governor, Professor Hafiz Abubakar; the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, mni and Presidents and General Secretaries of Industries Unions affiliated to the NLC. The Royal Father of the Day was His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II, CON, Sarkin Kano, the Emir of Kano represented by the Magajin Rarfin Kano, Alhaji Shehu Mohammed. Elder statesman, Alhaji Dr. Yusuf Maitama Sule also addressed the opening ceremony on the unity of Nigeria.
CONFERENCE THEME
The Conference theme was: Labour and Industry; Back to Basics. The conference compliments President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign promise with respect to re-industrialization, textile revival and job creation.
The key highlight of the Conference was the election of new National Officers to run the affairs of the Union in the next four (4) years. However, the Conference also discussed the state of the economy and the nation and took far reaching resolutions on the critical areas of union work namely collective bargaining, health and safety, workers’ education, Gender, National and global solidarity and the strengthening of the union’s campaign for the revival of textile industry.
ELECTIONS
The President, Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union, Comrade Angeline Chitambo led the team of Returning Officers that include representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) namely Chairperson, National Women Commission, Comrade Lucy Offiong and Comrade Rita Goyit. Comrade Abdul-Moomin Gbana, Deputy General Secretary, Ghana Mine Workers Union was among the Returning Officers.
The following officers were elected to run the affairs of the union for the next four years:
1. John Adaji – President
(from Unitex Ltd Kaduna)
2. Issa Aremu, mni – General Secretary
3. Abdul Adamu – 1st Deputy President
(From ABC Polymer Ltd Kano)
4. Babatunde Yusuf – 2nd Deputy President
(From Cotsyn Nig. Ltd. Lagos)
5. Lawal Haruna – National Treasurer
(From Funtua Textiles Ltd)
6. Aminu Suleiman – Deputy Gen. Secretary
7. Sylvester Chimezie – Deputy Gen. Secretary
8. Ismail Bello – Deputy Gen. Secretary
9. Dele Ojo – Deputy Gen. Secretary
10. Angela Ashi Ilabor – National Trustee
(From Spintex Mills Lagos)
11. Usman Gambo – National Trustee
(From Nig. Spinners & Dyers Ltd. Kano)
12. Martins Kundi – National Trustee
(Chellco Industries Ltd. Kaduna)
13. Frank Francis Michael – National Trustee
(Dangote Agro Sacks, Ibese, Ogun State)
14. Saibu R. Kadiri – National Auditor
(From Sunflag Nigeria Ltd. Lagos)
15. Onabanjo O. Lateef – National Auditor
(From Nichemtex Nig. Ltd. Ikorodu, Lagos)
VISIT TO THE PALACE
As part of the activities for the Conference, Delegates and Officers led by the leadership of the Union visited the Palace of the Emir of Kano, His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II, CON, Sarkin Kano on Wednesday March 16, 2016. The Emir gave his words of support for the revival of the textile industry. The Emir was represented at the opening ceremony of the Conference by the Magajin Rarfin Kano, Alhaji Shehu Mohammed.
RESOLUTIONS
After exhaustive deliberations on couple of issues, the Conference resolved as follows.
INDUSTRY: BACK TO BASICS
•Expressed concern that low crude oil prices had impacted negatively on economic performance in recent time leading to a sharp fall in GDP growth rate.
•There is also rising inflation occasioned by the depreciating value of the Naira and declining industrial performance as a result of rising cost of in-puts and infrastructural challenges.
•Observed that with the price of crude oil falling below 40 dollars, Nigeria has a new opportunity to diversify and industrialize the economy, create jobs and move the people out of poverty.
•Stressed that what Nigeria needs is to turn abundant raw materials, namely crude oil, limestones, cotton, diamond, gold, groundnuts, cocoa, tomatoes, into finished processed manufactured goods.
•Urged that Nigeria take advantage of the multiple benefits of crude oil by fixing existing local refineries, exploring local refining capacity and building petrochemical and gas plants.
•Condemned the recent statement credited to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu that “It’s cheaper to import petrol than refine locally”.
•Called on the Minister to withdraw this unhelpful statement failing which we demand he should resign.
•Noted with regret that Nigeria spends as much as $10bn annually on importation of petroleum products.
•Expressed support for Dangote Refinery said to be the biggest private Refinery in the world with proposed 650,000 barrels per day in the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) Lagos to costing about $11 billion!
•Reaffirmed that Industrialization is the key to economic recovery. The advantages of industrialization include lessening of dependency on imports, thus saving scarce foreign exchange. Where the economy is diversified, industrialization serves as a source of foreign exchange. It also serves as a source of employment for greater number of the population and invariably reduces income poverty.
ENERGY AS CATALYST FOR INDUSTRIALISATION
•Noted that energy is critical to industrial development.
•Acknowledges that there is a great challenge of power poverty in Nigeria with less than 5000 megawatts to a population of 170 million people. The current energy output of about 1, 500 is a reflection of the perennial energy crisis that is yet to be addressed.
•Noted that experiences across countries have shown that Nigeria cannot end power poverty with privatization of power generation and distribution.
•Stressed that it is critical that the Federal Government invest massively in power generation and distribution infrastructure as part of the efforts to create enabling environment for re-industrialisation.
•Called on the Ministry of Power to concentrate on generating more electricity for domestic and industrial needs instead of increasing electricity tariff.
TEXTILE INDUSTRY
•Urged President Buhari to urgently convene stakeholders meeting on textile with a view of implementing the Nigeria industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the National Cotton, Textile and Garment policy, under the Chairmanship of the Vice President of Nigeria.
LABOUR: BACK TO BASICS
•Noted there cannot be labour when there are no jobs.
•Frowned at the rate of unemployment in Nigeria and call on President Buhari to declare emergency in employment.
•Observed the increasing violation of workers’ rights particularly the right to freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining.
•The Conference supports the NLC position that the right of workers to belong to the union is a settled issue. Even the 2014 National Conference endorsed it.
•Reaffirmed that the right to belong to the trade union is a fundamental human right and guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ILO Conventions 87 and 98 which Nigeria is a signatory.
•Condemned the attempt by the Kaduna State Government to make membership of union conditional through filling of forms by the workers in the ongoing workers verification exercise. This is illegal and unacceptable.
•Insisted that workers right to belong to union is unconditional.
•Expressed support for any decision by the NLC to defend the workers of Kaduna State and entire workers in Nigeria.
•Stressed that NUTGTWN will work with other affiliates of IndustriALL, the NLC and TUC to strengthen the STOP Precarious Work Campaign and defend the rights of workers to join the union and collective bargaining.
•Commended the prosecution of former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro over the NIS recruitment exercise.
PENSIONS
•Commended the Director General, National Pension Commission (PenCom) Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu for the success recorded so far in the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
•Urged PenCom to accelerate the development of the framework for the participation of the Informal Sector in the scheme.
•Frowned at the issue of pension arrears under the contributory pension scheme. Noted it is a dangerous development capable of undermining the new pension scheme.
•Called for adequate funding of pension by the Federal government.
•Rejected the call by the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola for the utilization of pension fund for infrastructure development. The Conference noted that priority should be for payment of pensioners. Conference insisted that no decision on pension fund must be taken without the in-put of the stakeholders notably organized labour.
LABOUR UNITY & NATIONAL SOLIDARITY
•Commended the spirited effort of the highly respected veterans led by Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, founding President of NLC and Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole who have worked tirelessly and selflessly to ensure unity within the NLC. Commends in particular the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, mni for building on the efforts of the veterans to consolidate the reconciliation and rebuilding process of the NLC.
•Reaffirmed commitment and support for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
THE STATE OF THE UNION
•Noted that the Union witnessed tougher times with continued closure of Textile factories, redundancies and attendant loss of members.
•Stressed that in spite of these intimidating conditions, the Union remained focused and committed to the aspiration of pioneer textile workers who desired strong but democratic organization of workers in the Nigerian Textile Industry capable of defending the rights and interests of workers at work and in the society.
•Affirmed that the Union has remained steadfast and proud of steady progress in core areas of Union activities; Collective bargaining and improvement in working conditions, Defense of workers’ rights, Health and safety and general working conditions and Unionizing the unorganized amongst others
•Beyond these, the Union remains committed to workers education and the campaign and policy advocacy programme on revival of industries.
• Acknowledged that the Union has also made appreciable progress in recruiting and organizing new members. Over *3000 new members were recruited into the Union within the last four years.
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
•Recognized that the struggle for workers’ rights and good governance is global. NUTGTWN needs to consistently intensify its international solidarity with IndustriALL Global Union and its affiliates particularly across the Sub-Saharan Africa Region.
WOMEN AND GENDER ISSUES
•Noted that the challenges confronting the union notwithstanding, women participation has assumed special importance in the union.
•Recognized the enormous potential for increased women membership participation in the union through mass recruitment of self-employed tailors across the country.
•Stressed the need for macro-economic policies that will assist the development of the real sector of the economy and guarantee job creation for women.
•Reaffirmed commitment for the education and capacity development of female members.
CORRUPTION
•Commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the three point Agenda namely Economy, Security and Anti-Corruption.
•Noted with delight the progress so far recorded in the fight against corruption and the war against insurgency in Nigeria.
•Reaffirms commitment and support for the anti-corruption campaign of President Buhari administration.
•Supports the struggle of EFCC and ICPC to recover all the looted funds.
•Noted that stolen funds cannot be made available to revive the industry, provide electricity and other infrastructural development.
DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERANNCE
•Reaffirmed commitment to democratic governance as an enduring path to sustainable development.
•Condemns the new dangerous attack on democracy – events in Rivers, Kogi, etc.
•Harped on the need to deepen our democratic process through constructive engagement with government and promoting action that ensures unity and national development
•As a democratic trade union, reaffirmed support and commitment to democracy and good governance in Nigeria and Africa in general.
•Called on INEC under the Chairmanship of Professor Mahmud Yakubu to live up to its brief by conducting free and fair elections
APPRECIATION
Expressed appreciation to the Vice President, Professor, Yemi Osinbajo, GCON for honouring the union’s invitation as Special Guest of Honour. Special appreciation to the host Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Executive Governor of Kano State, the Royal Father of the Day, His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II, CON, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Dr. Yusuf Maitama Sule, Danmasanin Kano, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, mni; First President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu and Elder statesman, His Excellency, Alhaji Dr. Yusuf Maitama Sule, Danmasanin Kano. Others dignitaries include The Comrade Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshimhole, represented by Comrade Didi Adodo; Honourable Minister of State, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar represented by Engr. Tanwa Awoboku, Director, Industrial Development and Inspectorate; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr. Clement Illoh represented by Comrade Salau O. Abubakar, Controller of Labour, Kano State and Chairman, House Committee on Education (Tertiary) Comrade Aminu Suleiman; Presidents and General Secretaries of industrial unions, top employers and captains of Industry, representatives of Bank of Industry (BOI), National Pension Commission (PenCom), Fredrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), Trustfund Pension Plc, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), National Productivity Center (NPC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) among others.
Special thanks to Comrade Fabian Nkomo, Regional Secretary, IndustriALL Global Union, Sub Saharan office Johannesburg, South Africa, Comrade Angeline Chitambo (Mrs.) President Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union and Comrade Abdul-Moomin Gbana, Deputy General Secretary, Ghana Mine Worers Union for honouring our invitation.
Special appreciation to the Kano State Government; Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor Central Bank of Nigeria; Mr. Waheed A. Olagunju, Ag. MD/CEO Bank of Industry (BOI), Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Director General, National Pension Commission, Mrs. Helen Da-Souza, Managing Director/CEO, Trustfund Pensions Plc, Ismail Mohammed Agaka, Acting MD/CE Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), the Management, First Guaranty Pensions and the Management, Nichemtex Limited, Ikorodu Lagos for the support and collaboration.
____________________ ___________________
John Adaji Issa Aremu, mni
PRESIDENT GENERAL SECRET
