Thousands of former employees of defunct textile companies in Kaduna State have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Gov. Uba Sani to intervene in the alleged non-payment of more than ₦35 billion in gratuities and compensation owed by four textile firms.
The appeal was made by the Kaduna State chapter of the “Coalition of Closed Unpaid Textile Workers of Nigeria” in a statement jointly signed by the coalition’s Chairman, Jeibe Wordam, and Secretary, Samuel Ibrahim.
According to the coalition, the affected companies ceased operations between 2002 and 2004 without settling the entitlements of more than 9,000 workers, leaving many former employees and their families in prolonged economic hardship.
The workers identified the affected firms as Kaduna Textiles Ltd, Arewa Textiles Plc, Nortex, and Fine Tex Ltd.
The coalition stated that Kaduna Textiles reportedly shut down in 2002, while Nortex and Fine Tex ceased operations in 2003. Arewa Textiles Plc was also said to have closed in December 2004.
The group lamented that, despite several appeals and engagements with relevant authorities over the years, no concrete action had been taken to settle the outstanding benefits.
In the statement, the coalition said many former workers and their dependants had endured severe hardship as a result of the prolonged delay in the payment of their entitlements.
The workers further alleged that several former employees and family members had died while awaiting payment of the outstanding benefits.
They added that many affected workers, most of whom are now over 60 years old, had been pushed into poverty and were unable to secure new employment or establish businesses because of financial constraints.
The coalition also noted that widows and children of deceased workers were struggling to access healthcare and education amid the country’s worsening economic conditions.
The group recalled that it had previously submitted a petition to the House of Representatives during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and had also participated in a hearing in Abuja before the end of the 9th National Assembly.
The former workers appealed to the Federal Government, the leadership of the 10th National Assembly, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Northern Governors’ Forum, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to support efforts aimed at facilitating the payment of the alleged ₦35 billion outstanding entitlements.
