Jos — The Federal Government has been charged by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to brace up to the challenges of providing constant electricity supply, good roads and rail transport system, saying the 7-point Agenda is a failed project.

TUC's President General, Peter Esele, made this declaration at the weekend at the opening ceremony of the Triennial/Quadrennial National Delegate Conference of Textile Garment and Tailoring Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (TGTSSAN), in Jos, Plateau State.

He said the Federal Government must drop the crusade for 7-point Agenda and brace up to the challenges of meeting the criteria for providing at least three-key priority projects, as real economic integration cannot take place without constant electricity supply, good road and rail transport system as well as an enabling environment for industrial harmony.

"The organised labour is disturbed that 18 months after President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua was sworn-in as President and Commander -in Chief of the Arm Forces, the Federal Government, with its crusade on 7-Points Agenda has not been able to deliver any of the priority project that would turn around the economy," he said.

Esele, who was represented by the immediate past President of the TUC, Mrs. Peace Obiajelu, called on the Federal Government to use its political will to do away with the 'National Grid System' to allow the respective states of the Federation to generate its electricity.

"The Federal Government should realize that if the 36 states of the Federation have independent states' electricity corporations, the current black out in the name of states hooking to the National Grid will not take place.

"The states should be allowed to generate self electricity because there is abundance of dams, coal, wind which the respective states can depend on for power generation," he added

The Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity in Jos, Mr. Tsokwa John Kanku, who represented the Minister of Labour Dr. Hassan Lawal, said the Federal Government is fully prepared to put an end to industry closure in the country in its resolve to provide the infrastructural facilities for industrial development of the country.

He however called on the organised labour to brace up for the challenges ahead as government will ensure an enabling environment for industrial growth.

TGTSSAN's National President, Yakubu Jerekeri said "Unless the Federal Government quickly disburses the N80 billion bond for the revitalisation of the ailing textile industry in the country which is presently on the verge of extinction, the hope of the few operating companies would be dashed."

"The challenges that led to the collapse of not less than 150 textile companies over the past nine years, apart from funding, the industry is beset with inadequate supply of infrastructure. In particular, irregular power supply has compelled most industry operators to depend mainly on generating sets for electricity supply.

"The high cost of sourcing Black Oil (LPFO), an important production input, continues to soar and has to a large extent, contributed in increasing the cost of local textile products, making imported brands cheaper in price than local equivalents. As a result of all these problems, the companies have recorded huge losses," he added