Labour Backs Federal Government Textile Revival Drive As 650,000 Jobs Targeted
Organised labour in Nigeria’s textile sector has expressed strong support for the Federal Government’s plan to revive the country’s cotton, textile and garment industry, saying the initiative could restore hundreds of thousands of lost jobs and reposition the sector for global competitiveness.
The position was made known by leaders of the textile workers’ union following the unveiling of the Nigeria Industrial Policy 2025 and the approval of a new Cotton, Textile and Garment Development Framework aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing and reducing dependence on imports.
The National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria commended the administration for what it described as bold economic reform measures designed to stimulate industrial growth and restore investor confidence in the sector.
The union particularly applauded decisions reached at the National Economic Council meeting where the establishment of a dedicated development board for the textile value chain was approved. Labour leaders described the move as a strategic step toward resolving longstanding challenges that have undermined the sector’s productivity over the past decades.
According to union officials, Nigeria once had a thriving textile industry during the 1970s and 1980s, when more than 180 textile factories were operational across the country, directly employing about 650,000 workers while supporting millions more across supply chains including cotton farming, trading and garment production.
However, the sector suffered massive decline due to policy inconsistencies, weak infrastructure, high production costs and increased competition from imported fabrics, leading to the closure of most manufacturing plants.
The union said the new industrial policy signals renewed government commitment to reindustrialisation and domestic economic empowerment. It added that the proposed development board, expected to coordinate textile sector reforms, would help improve labour productivity, encourage local production and enhance value addition across the textile supply chain.
Labour leaders also quoted remarks credited to government officials who described the revival initiative as part of broader economic diversification efforts aimed at strengthening local industries, improving employment generation and boosting Nigeria’s manufacturing capacity.
The union however stressed that the success of the initiative would depend on transparency, accountability and inclusive stakeholder participation. It called for the representation of organised labour, industry operators and private sector players in the implementation process.
As affiliates of both national and international labour organisations, textile workers’ representatives pledged readiness to collaborate with government authorities and industrial partners to ensure sustainable growth of local textile manufacturing.
Economic analysts believe that if effectively implemented, the revival programme could significantly reduce unemployment, strengthen local production capacity and help restore Nigeria’s former position as a major textile manufacturing hub in Africa.
