NEWS
NLC urges FG to Expedite Action Towards Resuscitating Textile Industry
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps towards resuscitating the country’s textile industry.
NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, made the call at the 13th National Delegates Conference of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), on Tuesday in Abuja.
Ajaero explained that the call was imperative considering the sector’s potential for creating huge direct and indirect jobs through its value chain.
Describing the sector as pivotal to the nation’s economic growth and development, the NLC boss stressed the need for relevant authorities to join hands and mobilise the needed resources to resuscitate the sector.
“It is not merely a sector of economic activity but a cornerstone upon which the foundation for sustainable industrialisation is built.
“The textiles industry has historically been a major employer of labour, thereby contributing significantly to job creation and economic growth of our nation.
“This, in the long run, will foster inclusive growth and prosperity,” he said.
He acknowledged efforts by previous administrations to revive the sector, adding however, that the efforts did not yield the desired results.
The NLC president recalled that the government had at different times, allocated billions of naira under the Textile Revival Implementation Committee to revamp the cotton, textile and garment sub-sector of the economy.
“One wonders what has happened to all these funds. Were the funds ever accessed or were they mismanaged or misapplied?
“Nigerians would want to know what happened and why the sector is still struggling despite the purported injection of these funds,” he said.
Ajaero said that the theme, “Building Union Power for Sustainable industrialisation and the Future of Work”, was carefully chosen to offer hope to the struggling trade unions in the country.
He added that the theme also epitomises the resilience and vision of the trade union movement in navigating current challenges.
He stressed that understanding what the theme entails would help trade unions to checkmate the forces that have kept not just the textile industry down, but the entire nation’s economy.
He, therefore, commended the union for its unwavering commitment and tireless efforts in advancing the interests of its members and the broader labour movement.
In his remarks, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North-APC), called on labour leaders to interrogate the implementation of government industrial policies to ensure value for money.
This, according to him, will help to ensure that policies of government are not only formulated but implemented for Nigerians to reap the benefits.
“You must ask what went wrong in the textile industry; that is the way we can find sustainable solutions.
“Every government need pressure points, as such, labour leaders must be united and hold government to account with a loud and coherent voice,” Oshiomhole said.
On his part, NUTGTWN President, Mr John Adaji, said that the key to real transformation and economic recovery lies in manufacturing.
“The textile industry alone, if fully operational, has the capacity to create millions of decent jobs, thereby, bridging the huge unemployment gap in the country.
“Today, the cotton, textile and garment sub-sector of the economy, which used to be the second largest employer of labour after the public sector, is on a steady decline due textile companies closure, leading to massive job losses.
Adaji attributed part of the problems to unrestrained smuggling and importation of textile products. (NAN)
Niger Government has established the state Price Control and Monitoring Board, approved by Gov. Umaru Bago to ensure fair pricing and consumer protection.
Alh. Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the Niger Government (SSG), inaugurated members of the board on Thursday in Minna.
The eight-member board has Alh.
Hussaini Ahmed, a former Permanent Secretary as the chairman.Usman noted that the inauguration of the board marked a significant step in the state’s commitment to ensuring fair pricing and consumer protection.
He said that the board was expected to control and stabilise prices of essential commodities and eradicate or reduce to the barest minimum, hoarding of essential commodities across the state.
He said that board would also handle issues that may arise as a result of enforcement and penalty for contravention of guidelines among several others.
“The board will be responsible for the distribution, monitoring and evaluation of essential commodities and keep price under continuous surveillance.
“They will also interpret price movement and relate them to other development in the State’s economy,” Usman said.
He said the board was expected to interface with relevant stakeholders such as local government chairmen, traditional institutions and councilors and well as market organisations to ensure the success of their mandate.
The SSG enjoined members of board to bring their wealth of experience and expertise in economics, consumer affairs and market dynamics to bear in their assignment.
He said that their appointment underscored the government’s dedication to maintaining economic stability and safeguarding the interests of both consumers and businesses in the state.
In his remarks, the board chairman, Ahmed, assured that the board would interface with relevant stakeholders within and outside the state in order to bring succour to the populace.
Other members of the board include Hamza Bello, Permanent Secretary, Investment, Aliyu Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Garba Abdullahi, from Ministry of Basic Education.
Also on the board are Adamu Maikasuwa, Ministry of Agriculture, DCP Aminu Garba, Nigeria Police, Niger Command, Aminu Ladan, Chairman, Chanchaga Local Government Area and Usman Liman, retired Statistician-General as Secretary of the Board. (NAN)
The Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), has shared N1.298 trillion among the Federal Government, states, and the Local Government Councils (LGCs) for September.
This is according to a communique issued at the end of FAAC meeting for October held on Thursday in Abuja.
The communiqué was made available to newsmen by Bawa Mokwa, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAGF).
According to the communiqué, N1.
298 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N124.716 billion, and distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N543.518 billion.It also comprised Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N18.
445 billion, Exchange Difference revenue of N462.191 billion and Augmentation of N150.000 billion.It said that a total revenue of N2.258 trillion was available in the month of September.
“Total deduction for cost of collection was N80.993 billion, while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N878.946 billion,” it said.
According to the communiqué, gross statutory revenue of N1.043 trillion was received in September 2024, which was lower than the sum of N1.221 trillion received in August by N177.426 billion.
It said that gross revenue of N583.675 billion was available from VAT in September, higher than the N573.341 billion available in the month of August by N10.334 billion.
“From the N1.298 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total sum of N424.867 billion, and the state governments received a total sum of N453.724 billion.
“The LGCs received a total sum of N329.864 billion and a total sum of N90.415 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue,” it said.
On the N124.716 billion statutory revenue, the communiqué said that the Federal Government received N43.037 billion and the state governments received N21.829 billion, while the LGCs received N16.829 billion.
It said that the sum of N43.021 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue.
“From the N543.518 billion VAT revenue, the Federal Government received N81.528 billion, the state governments received N271.759 billion and the LGCs received N190.231 billion,” it said.
It said that in September, Oil and Gas Royalty, Excise Duty, EMTL and CET Levies increased considerably while VAT and Import Duty increased marginally.
It added that Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT) and others recorded significant decreases. (NAN)
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has reiterated the importance of strict adherence to traffic laws, emphasising the prohibition of commercial motorcycles on highways and other restricted routes.
Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the General Manager, said this in a statement on Thursday, signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA.
Bakare-Oki said that non-compliance with the regulations not only jeopardised the safety of the riders but also endangered the lives of other road users.
The statement came following the death of a motorcycle rider going against traffic on Carter Bridge, due to a collision with a fast-moving vehicle.
Bakare-Oki noted that the deceased, reportedly traveling from Ebute Ero, collided head-on with a fast-moving vehicle as it ascended Carter Bridge from Ilubirin.
“The forceful impact of the collision led to the immediate death of the motorcyclist while the vehicle driver ran away.
“Personnel from the LASTMA promptly arrived at the scene of the accident and swiftly alerted officers from the Central Police Station at Adeniji Adele and Shemo.
“Together, they coordinated efforts to retrieve the lifeless body of the rider, while LASTMA officials handed over the motorcycle to security authorities for further investigation,” he said.
The LASTMA boss extended his heartfelt sympathy to the family of the deceased.
“LASTMA remains committed to upholding public safety and is intensifying its efforts to minimise the occurrence of such tragic incidents on Lagos roads,” he said. (NAN)
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