The National Union of Textile, Garment, and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) has applauded the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration for establishing the Textile and Garment Development Board ahead of the Nigerian workers‘ May Day celebration.
This was contained in a Statement on Wednesday jointly signed by the President and General Secretary of the Union, Peters Godonu and Ali Baba, respectively.
The union said it is commendable that the current administration is re-industrialising the country and reviving the labour-intensive textile and garment industry.
He recalled that Vice President Kashim Shettima had restated the Federal Government‘s commitment to resuscitating a sector that once clothed the people and powered the nation‘s economy.“
The statement remarked that „the Vice President said the goal is not just regulation. It is a revival. This is our opportunity to re-industrialise, to empower communities, and to restore pride in local production,” is assuring.“
The Textile, the Union President said, „hopes that the Board would help to ensure regular upgrading of the textile value chains, improve labour productivity, maximise value-addition, and formulate strategies and programs that will reposition Nigeria’s textile sector for global competitiveness“.
The 149th meeting of the Federal Government’s National Executive Council took place on Thursday, 24 April, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Vice President Kashim Shettima chaired the meeting.
The Council, among other progressive resolutions, reportedly approved the proposal for establishing the Textile and Garment Development Board as the regulatory body for Nigeria‘s cotton, textile, and garment sector.
According to him, „Government statement explains that the board, when set up, will be domiciled in the Presidency, private sector-driven, with representation of the relevant public sector stakeholders, and funded from the Textile Import Levy being collected by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)“.
It will have governors representing the six geo-political zones, with Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, Budget and Economic Planning, and Industry, Trade and Investment as members“, he added.
The NUTGTWN President said: „The union acknowledges and welcomes this bold step by the Federal Government as a clear demonstration of its commitment to reviving Nigeria’s textile industry, which has suffered years of neglect and decline.
It underscores the government’s recognition of the sector’s critical role in job creation, industrial growth, and national economic development“.
They stressed that „on the May Day celebration, the Union salutes its members, entire Nigerian workers, and workers worldwide as they celebrate the dignity of labour and the role of workers in the fight for democracy and social justice.“
On this occasion of May Day 2025, the union reaffirms its commitment to improving in core areas of our activities namely; collective bargaining, union organisation, membership drive, national solidarity, campaign and advocacy, workers’ education, health and safety, gender, defense of workers’ rights, publication and documentation and social security for members“, he added.
The union leaders further stressed, „We pledge our commitment to improvement in wages and general working conditions of our members. We shall intensify our unionization effort and expand our activities in capacity building, conflict resolution, and national and international solidarity.
“We shall strengthen our campaign for improved productivity and, at the same time, maintain zero tolerance to exploitation and violation of workers’ rights“, he added.
They noted, „The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) marks this year’s May Day under the theme: ‚Reclaiming the Civic Space amid Economic Hardship‘. As an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), we also belong to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).“
„The ITUC-Africa enjoins us to use the occasion of this year’s May Day to advocate for national industrialisation policies that prioritise job creation, fair wages, and social protection within the context of the theme “Industrialisation, Trade, and Decent Work for Social Justice, added.”
The theme highlights the urgent need to harness industrialisation and trade as transformative forces to generate decent employment, foster sustainable economic growth, and promote equity and dignity for African workers.
The statement added, „our union will continue to intensify the campaign and advocacy for the resuscitation of the textile industry in particular and re-industrialisation „.
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