The President of the Union, Comr. John Adaji made this call at the 40th Anniversary and 30th National Education Conference themed NUTGTWN @ 40: ‘Repositioning Labour and Industry for the next 40 years’, held recently in Lagos.
The President, while making this call, threw caution in the wind that local industries cannot compete favorably with foreign industries without reducing the gas price.
“With immediate effect, we call for the review of the gas price from 7.62 dollars per cube meter to 2.5 dollars for local manufacturers.
“Without these interventions, local industries cannot be competitive with foreign industries.
This was just as The President called for the urgent implementation of the FG Executive order for the procurement of made in Nigeria goods.
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“We call for the immediate implementation of the FG Executive Order in respect of procurement of made in Nigerian goods. Uniforms for all uniform agencies must be procured locally. The same applies to schools, markets, Hotels etc.
“A country with a population of nearly 200 million cannot complain of market problem. The challenge is the unrestrained smuggling and importation of cheap and sub-standard goods. As we speak, these cheap and sub-standard textiles control about 90 percent of the market.
“The government must propel competitive local production by addressing the perennial electricity supply issues; implement a cocktail of incentives, some of which are contained in the CTG Policy.
Meanwhile, The General Secretary Of The Union, Comrade Issa Aremu expressed regret at the moribund state of Textile Mills in the country, urging the Federal Government to intervene urgently.
“Sadly we regret today that KTL, which started declining in the early 90s, has been shutdown almost permanently since 2002 with thousands of workforce laid off and some yet to be fully paid.
“We are not here to agonise but organise at 40th anniversary for the revival of KTL and other Textile mills under lock and key.
“We today call on the Federal and State governments to, within the context of Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), urgently revive moribund Textile mills in particular and manufacturing industries in general.
The Secretary suggested a state-led Industrialisation process in collaboration with private capital to consciously add value, create factories and Decent mass jobs to engage youths in employment.
Comrade Isa added that Nigeria needs good governance like in the 60s that would make Made in Nigeria and consume what it produces, halt capital flight through criminal importation.
and then