Union speaks of tragedy in Nigerian textile industry
According to the Coalition of Closed Textiles Workers of Nigeria (CCTWN), the closure of many textile firms in recent years has had drastic consequences.
The coalition supported textile workers in Kaduna State this week who were demonstrating because of the severe problems are facing. They claim that more than 1,175 workers who have lost their jobs because of textile company closures have died in recent years.
According to AllAfrica.com, they were appealing to the government to release a N100 billion ($658.5 million) “textile reviving fund”. This would allow many factories to reopen, protestors claimed.
Chairman of the coalition, Wordam Simidik, said: "We want to inform the President that after this long closure of the textile industries for over eight and half years, the following happened to us: we lost over 1,775 workers and families. Our children are no more going to school because we have no money to pay their school fees. Over 90% of these workers have been ejected from their various homes. We cannot meet our social, economic and financial obligations. Our daughters and wives have turned to street beggars.
He added: "We are asking President Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Northern Governors Forum, and other stakeholders of the textile industries to work out every modality and release the N100 billion textile reviving fund, open these closed textiles, pay us our gratuity and terminal benefits so that the teeming Nigerian youths will be gainfully employed and contribute to the economy of this great country."
