The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has taken a retrospective to the cause of the collapse of textile industry in the country, saying that the introduction of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) and other new-liberal policies by successive governments led to the de-industrialization process that kill jobs and the economy.

President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, who was speaking at the 11th National Delegates’ Conference of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) held in Kano, said since the introduction of SAP, followed by other neo-liberal policies, Nigeria industrialization and economy has been in comatose.

Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida introduced SAP despite agitations and resistance from Nigerians during the inglorious era of military dictatorship.

Wabba, who was speaking during the conference with a theme: “Labour and Industry: Back to Basics,” said the textile industry, the biggest employer after government in that era was the hardest hit

“I owe it a duty to my conscience and my country to state that since the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme in the mid 80s and the implementation of other neo-liberal policies subsequently; the country has witnessed a progressively painful de-industrialization process that killed both jobs and the economy.