KADUNA— THE textile union has challenged the federal and state governments to create sustainable jobs as a matter of urgency for the economic reforms to have a direct impact on the living standards of the people.
It challenged the governors of the northern states to create jobs for the people by resuscitating the Kaduna Textile Mills Limited which was closed down about five years ago.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the union’s annual education conference which has” Labour and Industry in the context of reforms” as its theme, the acting general secretary of the union, Comrade Issa Aremu said rather than President Olusegun Obasanjo presenting bill to weaken organized labour, the president should present a bill that would create jobs for the people.
“What we need is employment bill, industry bill, not anti- labour bill”.
Governor Mohammed Markarfi who declared the conference open commended labour in the state for its contribution to the attainment of peace in the state.
The governor said there was need for government at all levels to work with labour saying, “everyone of us should bring an input to bring a positive change.”
On the resuscitation of Kaduna Textile Mills, Governor Markarfi said, although a decision had been taken to revive the company which was a major employer of labour, some governors have failed to fulfill their obligations needed to revive the company.
Governor Markarfi said, “except leaders take their responsibility seriously, if things collapse, they will have themselves to blame”.
He however, said that Nigeria stands to gain from the World Trade Organization agreement, because it will bring about enhanced responsibility and market for Nigerian products.
Earlier in his address, the national president of the national union of textile, garment and tailoring workers union, Comrade Reginald Agulanna also condemned the labour bill presented to the National Assembly by President Obasanjo.
He said, “Labour is an important segment of the civil society and in a democracy, an important partner in the development process”.
Comrade Agulanna said the conflicts of labour and government or labour and employers were avoidable when “employers and government fail to fulfill their own part of industrial bargains”.
