By Victor Ahiuma-Young

LAGOS — Organised Labour has called on the Federal Government to ensure that no less than 40 percent of the N6.6 trillion national budget was spent on made-in-Nigeria goods, saying it would stabilise factories and create more jobs for the people.

Buhari presents N6.08trn 2016 budget to NASS

It also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to convoke a stakeholders’ meeting of all the investors in the country to find ways to revive industrialisation.

Speaking on the national budget, General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, and Chairman IndustriALL Global Union, African Region, Mr. Issa Aremu, berated recent comments by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, that it was cheaper to import petroleum products than refine locally.

He said: “There must be patronage for made-in-Nigeria goods. We learned that the military or the entire armed forces will spend about N4 billion for their uniforms. The question is: are they going to buy made-in-Nigeria uniforms? If they do so, a lot of our factories will be stable, and more jobs will be created.

“So, of this N6.6 trillion budget, let at least, 40 per cent be spent on made -in-Nigeria goods. Made-in-Nigeria cars are already here. Let them spend it on construction instead of bringing finished products.

“I think it is important that the President sit down with all the stakeholders and discuss on how a good proportion of the budget is spent on made-in-Nigeria goods.”

Aremu argued that available reports indicated that Nigeria spent no less than $11 billion annually on importation of fuel.

He said: “If Nigeria spends about $11 million or $12 billion annually to import petroleum products, what it means is that Nigeria has the capacity to set up one refinery like the one Alhaji Aliko Dangote is building every year.

“Can you imagine if we have been doing that, by now the number of refineries we have might be unlimited and there will not be pressure on foreign exchange, jobs would be created in the sector. Today, there are no serious jobs taking place in the oil and gas sector.”