Generate more electricity for domestic use – Labour tells FG

The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, has called on the Federal Government to concentrate on generating more electricity for domestic and industrial needs instead of increasing electricity tariff.

The union in a communiqué at the end of its 11th National Delegates Conference in Kano, Kano State, noted that energy was critical to industrial development of the country.

The communiqué signed by John Adaji and Issa Aremu, President and General Secretary of the union respectively, acknowledged that there was a great challenge of power in Nigeria with less than 5,000 megawatts to a population of 170 million people, contending that the current energy output of about 1,500 was a reflection of the perennial energy crisis that was yet to be addressed.

According to the statement, 'experiences across countries have shown that Nigeria cannot end power poverty with privatization of power generation and distribution. It is critical that the Federal Government invests massively in power generation and distribution infrastructure as part of the efforts to create enabling environment for re-industrialisation. We call on the Ministry of Power to concentrate on generating more electricity for domestic and industrial needs instead of increasing electricity tariff.'

The communiqué noted that the union witnessed tougher times with continued closure of textile factories, redundancies and attendant loss of members, stressing that in spite of these intimidating conditions, the union remained focused and committed to the aspiration of pioneer textile workers who desired strong but democratic organization of workers in the Nigerian textile industry capable of defending the rights and interests of workers at work and in the society.

The communiqué said 'the union has remained steadfast and proud of steady progress in core areas of union activities; collective bargaining and improvement in working conditions, defence of workers' rights, health and safety and general working conditions and unionizing the unorganized amongst others.'

Beyond these, the Union remains committed to workers education and the campaign and policy advocacy programme on revival of industries. The Union has also made appreciable progress in recruiting and organizing new members.    Over 3000 new members were recruited into the Union within the last four years.' Vanguard