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  • NUTGTWN, FEPSAN mourn Buhari, hail his commitment to industrial, agricultural revival

    NUTGTWN, FEPSAN mourn Buhari, hail his commitment to industrial, agricultural revival

    The National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) and the Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) have joined millions of Nigerians and the international community to mourn the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing his passing as a huge loss to the nation.

    NUTGTWN, in a statement jointly signed by its President, Peters Godonu, and General Secretary, Ali Baba, recalled Buhari’s pivotal role in championing policies that sought to revive Nigeria’s moribund textile industry, create decent jobs, and promote industrial growth.

    The union noted that President Buhari, who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in London after a prolonged illness, was the first Nigerian leader to grant audience to its leadership, during which he promised to reverse the decline in the textile sector and return it to its glory days.

    “During his 2015 campaign, he was perhaps the only candidate who made textile revival a major campaign issue. As President, his policies laid a solid foundation for the revival of industries, particularly textiles,” the union stated.

    They highlighted Buhari’s introduction of a comprehensive Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) policy, firm support for Executive Order 003 mandating local content in public procurement, and the Central Bank-backed funding support for industries as landmark initiatives that buoyed local production and rekindled hope among workers.

    “In recognition of his commendable efforts to revive the textile industry, our National Executive Council conferred on him the title of Honorary Member of the Union,” the statement added.

    Read Also: Shettima, governors head to Daura for Buhari’s third-day prayer

    Similarly, FEPSAN, in a tribute signed by its President, Alhaji Sadiq Kassim, said Buhari would be remembered as a principled and resolute leader whose tenure significantly impacted Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.

    “Throughout his time in office, he remained committed to the agricultural sector as a driver for economic development. We pay tribute to his life and enduring legacy and salute his contribution to the advancement of Africa’s unity and voice on the global stage,” Kassim said.

    Both organisations prayed for the repose of Buhari’s soul and urged Nigerians to sustain his vision for a stronger, self-reliant and industrially vibrant nation.

  • Union wants FG to address poor wages

    Union wants FG to address poor wages

    Mr Issa Aremu, the General Secretary of National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), on Tuesday urged Federal Government to hasten implementation of increased workers wages in the country.

    Aremu gave the advice at the NUTGTWN 29th Annual National Education Conference tagged “Labor, Industry and National Unity’’ in Sokoto.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to expand the composition of newly established National Industrial Council to include state governments and labour union representatives, to obtain more inputs.

    He said poor workers’ wages in the country had attracted many bad attitudes on the side of workers while the present composition of council was all high level businessmen who might mainly defend their interests on gain of every transaction.

    The Secretary emphasised the need for increased investment on education and capacity building to improve productivity of Nigerians and advised government to facilitate expansion of Health Insurance Scheme for the benefit of all.

    “Recent signing of executive order of patronising made in Nigeria goods by Federal Government is encouraging as various materials, including official uniforms, were being imported.

    “Government should use 2017 Budget on industrial revolution that will surely facilitate employments and drive the nation in good way as obtained in other developed nations,’’ Aremu said.

    He commended Gov. Aminu Tambuwal for the courage in  reviving ailing industries among northern governors, stressing that his focus on resuscitation of collapsed Kaduna Textiles Ltd. had manifested to plans for establishment of textile industry in Kalambaina in Sokoto State.

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    Also, the National President of NUTGTWN, Mr John Adaji, said the union members contributed in chain value and  added service to real agriculture and manufacturing in Nigerian economy.

    Adaji urged government to address the challenges of unemployment and enjoined unions to support the universal survival of industries through effective implementation of right policies.

    The president said the union would endorse Gov. Tambuwal for any higher political aspiration in view of his commitment to workers’ welfare and interest in industrial growth.

    In their separate remarks, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and Biship Mathew Kukah, expressed appreciation over the union’s achievements and their struggle to create more awareness among Nigerians.

    The leaders emphasised the need for more attention and drastic approach on the decay in Nigerian industries,  urging stakeholders to facilitate ways to revive them to their last glory.

    Opening the three-day conference, Tambuwal  Sokoto state government would soon connect its Independent Electric Power Supply to national grid as 100 per cent of the project was completed and test it on three occasions.

    Tambuwal represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Basher Garba, said constant electricity supply was the pillar of every industrial development, noting that government intensified efforts to increase power supply to attract more industries.

    He said Sokoto planned to establish textile and fertilizer industries to fast tract employment generation and utilise abundant agricultural potentialities. (NAN)

  • Union wants FG to establish Tailoring Institute in Nigeria

    The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) has called on the Federal Government to establish a Tailoring Institute in the country to enhance professionalism.

    The union’s General Secretary, Mr Isah Aremu, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said that the institute would enhance the capacity and the training of tailors in the country.

    “We are calling on the Federal Government to immediately set up the National Institute for tailors.

    “The tailors need to improve on their skills in order to do their job very well, because right now, there is a skill gap in the profession.

    “And this does not make our tailors to be competitive compare to their colleagues in other parts of West Africa.

    “So, we want the institute to be established strictly for the tailors to build their capacity and improve their skills,” he said.

    Mr Ali Paul, President, Nigeria Union of Tailors (NUT) also told NAN that establishment of the institute would enhance the profession.

    “There are too many tailors in the country, especially now that the white collar jobs are not really available.

    “ If you look at our teeming youths, especially the graduates, you will find out that as they are graduating most of them are going into the fashion industry.

    “So, the training institute if establish will create jobs, efficiency in the profession and boost the country’s economy.

    “It will also take the fashion industry to another level, if established,  it will surely be  a welcome development,” he added

  • ERP: Union urges FG to involve small-scale businesses

    The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), has urged the Federal Government to involve small-scale businesses in driving its new Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    The union’s General Secretary, Mr Isah Aremu, made the call at the inauguration of the Abuja branch of the Union on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Aremu said that the small-scale businesses should benefit from the economy recovery and growth  plan.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had on March 7, launched the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    “We want to call on the Federal Government that the new recovery plan should be inclusive of small scale business, that is self-employed people and informal sector workers.

    “The cost of doing business for them is very high due to interrupted power supply, among other issues affecting the small-scale business in the country,” he said.

    The general secretary urged the Federal Government to stabilise power supply and ensure access to loan facilities.

    Aremu maintained that the anticipated seven per cent  growth rate of the economy under the ERGP  should get the country out of recession when  all sectors of the economy,  participate  actively.

    “So, when they talk about businesses, they should not be talking about only multinationals.

    “We want government to patronised small businesses, if they are going to pursue the policy.

    “That means we should not go and buy the fabric from China and sew them from China but give them to our tailors.

    “This means that tailors must be trained to sew police uniforms, customs uniforms, among others as most of these uniforms are imported and sewed from China, which was not encouraging if the country must get of recession”, he said.

    Aremu added that the N7.2 trillion budget should be used to finance the economy recovery of Nigeria businesses, especially the indigenous small-scale businesses.

    He also advocated for the establishment of  an institute for tailors so as to enhance their proficiency as it obtains in other countries.

    He called on the Industrial Training Fund to key into this project, saying that UNIDO and the ILO have pledged capacity support for the union.

    Mr Denis Zulu, ILO Country Director in Nigeria, commended the union for taking the bold initiative considering the fact that unionism is all about ensuring that members’ rights and privileges are protected.

    “This means that no tailor will be harassed or taxed unnecessarily because your union will stand by you.

    “I also want to assure you that ILO will provide capacity building for your union”, he said.

    Earlier, Mr Paul Ali, the union’s President stressed the need for members of the union to stand for what is right at all times

  • 85,000 jobs coming in Dangote Refinery

    85,000 jobs coming in Dangote Refinery

    The proposed $9 billion Dangote Refinery in Lagos is expected to create 85,000 jobs for skilled and unskilled workers, reports TOBA AGBOOLA.

    Despite having three refineries, Nigeria still finds it difficult to meet the domestic needs for petrol and other products. The refineries with an installed capacity to process 445,000 barrels per day (bpd) are not working at optimum capacity.

    Against this background, the proposed $9 billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company in Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), Lagos, is expected to help refine products to bridge the gap in local needs, conserve foreign exchange and create jobs.

    The Dangote Group of Companies is promising to train over 8,000 engineers to run the refinery. It says on completion, the project will create no fewer than 85,000 direct and indirect jobs.

    Since it is a complex business, it is expected to open up other jobs in construction, management, engineering, and administrative duties.

    These jobs can be broken into pure engineering and journeyman.

    Engineering refers to disciplines requiring formal education. In the journeyman category, workers do not usually need a degree. They begin as a trainee and work their way up to a site supervisor that oversees a project.

    Journeymen are contractors hired by construction companies which are for contracted by refineries construction-related projects, such as repairs and major turnarounds.

    Other available job openings are oil refinery foreman, refinery general foreman, and oil refinery site supervisor.

    Welders, electricians, tilers, aluminium doors/windows fitters, building and construction workers will also not be left out. There are other workers who maintain the refinery and do the work that is required to keep the refinery running.

    These positions can include maintenance personnel, cooks and catering staff, truck and heavy equipment drivers, mechanics and other. Gardeners and sweepers will also be needed to keep the refinery surroundings as clean as possible.

    A top official of LFTZ who will not want his name in print, said the zone has been split into an oil and gas logistic park, light and heavy industrial and manufacturing section, media centre and urban residential section.

    The official added that for the zone to be developed quickly, as expected by the initiator, calls are being made for the development of a meaningful partnership, to build a modern international airport and sea –port, that will serve the zone, and become the aviation and maritime hub of the sub-region.

    It was also gathered that real estate companies would be given a role to play in the development of the zone. The LFTZ will showcase opportunities for private companies in the oil and gas manufacturing, food processing, hospitality and leisure sectors, banking and financial service sector would be expected to develop a 21st century financial centre at the zone.

    According to President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Nigeria spends about $30 billion yearly on importation of petroleum products, promising that when the project is finally completed, it will transform the country from being a net importer of petroleum products to a net exporter of the products. Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel, Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) and other by-products of petroelum refining such as poly-propylene and fertiliser will be in adequate supply.

    Speaking on the Project, the General Secretary, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Issa Aremu, said with a projected daily production output of 400,000 barrels, the same capacity of the four government-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, operating at less than 30 per cent of installed capacities, the bold initiative by the Dangote Group is a giant stride in re-industrialising Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.

    He said the project will create employment opportunities for many Nigerians and set the country on the pedestal of industrialisation.

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG) agrees that the proposed refinery/petro-chemical and fertiliser complex is a huge job generating venture. The workers have called on other private investors, including the multinational oil companies to borrow a leaf from Dangote Group by establishing refineries in the country to create jobs and save the huge foreign exchange dissipated yearly on fuel importation.

    The oil workers recalled that years back, the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave licences to about 18 indigenous firms to refine crude oil, lamenting that about a decade after, none of them has being able build the a refinery plant.

  • Pension: Labour demands stiffer sanctions against non-compliance

    Pension: Labour demands stiffer sanctions against non-compliance

    The organised labour has called on the National Assembly to take advantage of the  on-going pension reform amendment Bill 2013, to tighten sanction for non-compliance and review the rate of contribution, among others.

    Speaking at the opening of National Pension Commission, PenCom zonal office in Kano, Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),  Comrade Issa Aremu, urged the government not to politicise the appointment of the Chairman and Director-General, of the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

    Aremu, who is also the General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), commended PenCom for changing the story of pensioners from that of agony to taht of joy with the contributory pool fund and sustainable fund for pension claims after retirement.

    His word: “PenCom’s remarkable growth and development in just less than 10 years of its establishment, shows that Nigeria is capable of institution building. With 20 PFAs (Pension Funds Administrators), seven closed Pension Fund Administrators, four Pension Fund Custodians with turnover of billions of naira, about N3.7 trillion worth of pension fund assets and 5.83 million registered workers, Pencom deserves commendation.

    “We acknowledge the fact that the Director-General of PenCom, Mrs. ChineloAnohu-Amazu, has within a short time consolidated the gains of the past by her predecessor, opening new frontiers as we are witnessing today.  North West Zonal office in Kano has added to the number of Zonal Offices that have been commendably commissioned by PenCom, namely Lagos, Ilorin, Calabar and Awka.

    “With the opening of PenCom’s Northwest Zonal office in Kano, we expect Kano State to soonest also join the new contributory pension scheme.

    “The old defined benefit scheme as good as it could be is not sustainable. With the new pension scheme, there is good corporate governance, strengthened Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, with guaranteed transparency and accountability.

    “All the revelations about the public sector pension scam show that we must urgently think outside the box of unfunded, crime-prone defined benefit (DB). The future lies in the mandatory individual defined contributions which the Pension reform Act represents.”

    “The bane of public sector pension lies in its non-contributory character as well as sheer corruption and diversion of funds even allegedly for partisan political purposes. NLC protest in the past over pension is legitimately directed against this much abused non contributory public pension scheme. The challenge lies in deepening the new contributory pension scheme.”

    Aremu commended President Goodluck Jonathan for trying to deepen and strengthen the pension scheme through the Pension Reform amendment Bill 2013.

    He said it is good that the Pension Reform Act is being amended to further widen the scope of coverage to include the informal sector.

    “We, therefore, call on President Goodluck Jonathan to avoid the temptation to politicise the positions of Chairmanship of the Board of PenCom as well as its Director General.  We should rely on those who have the experience and competence to manage the fund.”

     

    “They are not far-fetched if we look inwards.  The President should have an eye on institution building which requires statesmanship and not partisanship.  We cannot afford to play politics with the new pension scheme given the ugly experience of the recent past. From the point of view of labour, the pension scheme will be a determinant factor for 2015 general election.

    “Labour will make pension issue a campaign issue and will support only politicians who pay minimum wage and minimum pension for working men and women,” Aremu said.