From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Coalition of Close Unpaid Textile Workers Association, Kaduna State have appealed to the management of Arewa Textile limited to pay their entitlements before selling off the industry.
Arewa Textile closed shop in 2005 and laid off over 4000 workers without their benefits being paid.
The workers also appealed to Northern Elders and political leaders to intervene in finding solutions to their plights.
In a peaceful protest on Thursday at the gate of the moribund textile factory, some of the workers displayed placards with different inscriptions that pleaded for settlement of their entitlements.
Some of the inscriptions read, “Our husbands have died without being paid their entitlements, “Arewa Textile management don’t abandon us, pay us our entitlements before you sell the factory”.
They also reminded Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai of his campaign promises of making case for the revival of the Textile as well as settlement of their entitlements.
Addressing the protesting former workers, the Secretary of the Coalition, Musa Ibrahim said, “The situation we found ourselves is sympathetic. The management have abandoned the workers. We are hearing that governor El-rufai wants to buy the factory. We have no problem with that, but if it is true, we are appealing to the governor to pay our entitlements before taking over the Textile. Over 18 years we have been in this pains and struggle to get our benefits, but without success.
“We want to remind El-rufai to fulfil his campaign promise of reviving the Textile and pay our gratuities. He told us during his campaign in 2015 that he would make case for the revival of the Textile and pay our entitlements. This is our property until our benefits are paid.
“We are here to pray to God and our political leaders to come to our aid and pay our benefits. Over 30,0000 workers laid off from all the Textile industries in Kaduna. We have lost some of our members while they were waiting for their entitlements”. Ibrahim said.
Earlier, the organising Secretary of National Union of Textiles, Garments and Tailoring Workers Union of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Comrade Adepoju Fatai said, “Our gathering here today is not in vain. Since 15 years ago over 4000 workers were laid off from Arewa Textile industry.
“As a union the only power we have is to improve on the welfare of the workers, but since the factory closed in 2005, benefits of workers were not paid.
“And because of this, we are in court for over 10 years. Court ruled in favour of the workers. But management refused to pay. If court gives judgement, it should be obeyed, but reverse is the case.
“The court gave judgement for 250 million naira as against 600 million naira being the entire sum of our entitlements.
“We heard that Kaduna State government wants to take over the company. We are not bothered about the takeover, but pay our benefits. But they cannot sell it without paying our entitlements. Our benefits must be paid.
“Nothing will be done here until our entitlements are paid. If the management likes, let them come and level us with the caterpillar or bulldozers. The management never thought it human and our rights to pay our benefits for the past many years ago,” Fatai said.