NIGERIA Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) has called for establishment of a presidential task force to confiscate smuggled goods.
Union President John Adaji spoke at the 100th National Administrative Council (NAC) and 86th Central Working Committee meeting.
He said: “The union frowns at NCS for not 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 locally-produced textiles. We call on NCS to be more patriotic and adopt new creative measures that must include consistent raids of warehouses of smugglers in Kano, Lagos, Kaduna, Onitsha, and other cities.”
Adaji noted that one major problem of the industry has been the lack of patronage despite the Federal Executive Order 003 on the patronage of locally-produced goods.
He called on relevant agencies of government to comply with the executive order by patronising locally-produced textiles to avert further factory closure and loss of jobs.
The union also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure holistic implementation of the Cotton Textile Garment (CTG) policy, adding that the textile industry remains critical in addressing high unemployment and security challenges.
“A fully revived textile industry is capable of creating millions of jobs, addressing security challenges, improving internally generated revenue, reduce billions of dollars import bill incurred annually on textile and apparel, safeguard and earn foreign exchange for the country.
“We urge states to complement the Federal Government’s effort through 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…”