OPEN LETTER TO CHAIRMAN, NORTHERN GOVERNORS’ FORUM (NGF), HIS EXCELLENCY, DR. MU’AZU BABANGIDA ALIYU, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF NIGER STATE THROUGH EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KADUNA
ALHAJI (DR.) MUKTAR RAMALAN YERO.

SAVE THE LIVES OF KTL WORKERS; PAY THEIR ENTITLEMENTS WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY

INTRODUCTION
• The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and IndustriALL Global Union wishes to express concern on the general state of insecurity in almost all parts of the country and the attendant effects on the development of Nigeria.

• We salute all the progressive forces and well meaning Nigerians that are working towards ensuring sustainable peace and development of the country.

• We commend in particular, the Kaduna State Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji (Dr.) Muktar Ramalan Yero for his commitment to peace and security in Kaduna State and for deepening the peace efforts of his predecessor, Late Sir Patrick Yakowa. We bear witness that His Excellency is quietly and effectively restoring investment confidence in the state that used to be the home of textile and textile workers.

• We commend the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) under the chairmanship of His Excellency, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, Executive Governor of Niger State for the effort to address the security challenges in the North. We also commend the commitment of other Northern Governors towards sustainable peace and development of the Northern States.

THE PROBLEM

• However, sustainable development of any country or State lies in industrialization and mass job creation. The root of the current crisis in the country is economic and social.

• It is against this background that the union is disturbed by the continuous closure of Kaduna Textiles Limited since 2002. Even more worrisome is the continuous delay in settlement of the entitlements of KTL workers by its owner-19 Northern States of the Federation. KTL workers are suffering untold hardship due to non-payment of their benefits since the unilateral closure of the factory in 2002.

• The union since September 2005 obtained a court judgment for settlement of the entitlements of the workers amounting to N687,073,346.00. Unfortunately, the management and owners of the company (19 Northern States) have remained insensitive to the plight of these workers inspite of repeated appeals, prayers, rallies and protests by the union.

• In March 2013, the NGF set up a Committee of 5-Governors headed by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed with Governors of Zamfara, Kano, Bauchi and Borno States as members. The Committee was mandated to look at KTL and proffer recommendations on the way forward. The report of the committee is yet to see the light of the day.

• The Union also visited the Chairman of the Board of KTL Gen. Wushishi (Rtd.) in March 2013 on the way forward; when the company would re-open or when the workers’ entitlement would be paid, but he could not give a concrete response.

SETTLE WORKERS’ ENTITLEMENTS
• We again call on the Northern Governors and the management of Kaduna Textile Limited (KTL) to settle the terminal benefits of KTL workers.

• We equally call on the management of other closed textile factories in the North particularly Arewa Textiles Plc. and Gaskiya Textiles Kano to settle the entitlements of their workers without further delay. Urgent settlement of entitlements of these workers will go a long way in reducing their burden and alleviating their increasing destitution, poverty and desperation capable of causing communal/industrial disharmony.

• We commend all textile companies that have settled their workers’ benefits. In particular, we commend Alhaji Aminu Dantata who is making efforts to settle the benefits of Nortex/Finetex Limited workers.

• But beyond settlement of the entitlements of KTL workers in particular, the Northern Governors must also bring back to life Kaduna Textiles Limited (KTL), the oldest textile company in Nigeria and indeed Africa and the proud legacy of the late Sarduana of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

Issa Aremu mni
GENERAL SECRETARY
VICE PRESIDENT, NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC)