Closed Textiles:  Coalition Cries Out As 3,000 Staff Die Waiting For Entitlements

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By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Over 3,000 staff of closed textile companies in Kaduna have died while waiting for the payment of their entitlements, with many others plagued by various health challenges that is seriously affecting their quality of life.
President  of the  Coalition of Closed Textile Workers Association of Nigeria (CCUTWAK), Comrade Wordam Simdik disclosed this while speaking at a special programme held in conjunction with wives of their late members at the Kaduna Textile Limited (KTL) premises on Monday.
He said the long closure of the textiles has led to broken marriages and disengagement from social life by their members.
In a communiqué issued, the coalition appreciated the efforts of the 19 northern states for paying off N400 million Naira KTL debts owned to First Bank, while also appreciating the efforts of the Group Managing Director of the NNDC for supporting the Managing Director  of the company to get investors for the reopening of the company.
On Arewa Textiles PLC, the coalition appealed to stakeholders to assist in resolving the dispute between the company’s management and that of Union Bank.
“We workers appeal to Union Bank to release all necessary documents to the Arewa Textiles management to enable them get an investor. We believe the bank will be more committed to doing business with the company if it reopens,” it appealed.
The workers according to the communiqué, want the Chairman of Nortex and Finetex, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, the board of directors and management  to compute their terminal benefits and gratuity.
“We are happy that the total gratuity of N1.4 billion, four hundred million we also appreciate the initial payment of two hundred and fifty million Naira, hoping the board of directors will commence the immediate balance of N1.150 billion,” the coalition said.
In an interview with newsmen, Women Leader of the coalition, Mrs. Rahab Gajere said that so many of them survive by God’s grace because their husbands cannot afford to meet needs as bread winners.
She explained that most of them have become petty hawkers in a bid to earn livelihood.
“Right now I have been given notice by my landlady to quit if I don’t pay the rents. I don’t even know what to do because as we speak, I don’t know where my next meal will come from,” she added.
The coalition also used the gathering to offer prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari for good health.
 

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