Food workers seek FG’s intervention to avert sector’s collapse
21 September 2021 |
3:00 am
The Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) has called on the Federal Government to save the already struggling companies in the sector from total collapse.
Food market
The Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) has called on the Federal Government to save the already struggling companies in the sector from total collapse.
The appeal, the union said, was coming on the heels of the many challenges confronting the sector, among which is the current debate on the justification for the introduction of excise duty on non-alcoholic carbonated drinks, which is currently a subject of discussion among the National Assembly, the Customs and the Finance Ministry.
President of FOBTOB, Jimoh Oyibo, at a media briefing, said, the government’s justification was based on the belief that non-alcoholic drinks manufacturers were making fortunes of about 30 per cent excise levy on alcoholic drinks, which does not tally.
He lamented that there was no justification to subject companies that are struggling to survive to another level of financial burden.
He called on the Federal Government to engage all stakeholders constructively, to arrive at a more beneficial conclusion to save the already struggling companies in the sector that are only surviving on a small profit margin.
He bemoaned the influx of expatriates into the sector, stating that it was disheartening and unacceptable to the union even as it struggles to save jobs.
He said the attitude has led to continuous loss of jobs that ought to be exclusive reserves of indigenous workers.
He said the union will not relent until the influx of expatriates taking over their jobs is reduced to the barest minimum.
While describing the government’s backward integration as a good move that is capable of stimulating economic development, most especially in the manufacturing sector, the major concern being raised by the players in the industry, Oyibo said, was the fact that the union has not often been engaged and even where such consultation exists, it is shallow without any depth.
The FOBTOB boss stressed that consultation on issues of backward integration should be robust and all-encompassing, adding that banditry, insecurity and kidnapping, among others, were affecting backward integration.
Among other challenges, Oyibo, mentioned the issue of difficulty in the supply chain, saying “during the lockdown, the laxity in the supply chain, which is critical to economic recovery in Nigeria, became evident, and from that time, several attempts made to put this in the right direction have not yielded the desired result.”
He said failure to address this may lead to the crash of the economy, stating that responses of government agencies saddled with the responsibility to contain the challenge had been extremely poor.
He expressed fear that if the issues were not effectively tackled and given urgent attention, it might push some of the companies in the sector to close down due to their inability to break even, “which will eventually lead to massive loss of jobs in a country with over 33 per cent unemployment rate.”
The union called on government and stakeholders to urgently come to the rescue of the sector, and also put in place policies that will drive the progress of the industry so that companies that are creating jobs will not be vulnerable.
Related
Latest
2 mins ago
A neighbourhood in the southern Serbian city of Nis will be evacuated on Sunday due to the removal of NATO projectiles found in the area, said the city's emergency situations headquarters on Friday.
23 mins ago
Condoms are essential for safe sex, but sometimes they can feel like a barrier to intimacy, both literally and figuratively. However, with a few tweaks and a change in mindset, they can become part of a pleasurable sexual experience. Listed below are ways pleasure and protection can intertwine seamlessly while using condoms. 1. Ditch the…
29 mins ago
A Volvo truck (unregistered) carrying loads of food items overturned in the Ojota area of Lagos on Friday, leaving its occupants with serious injuries.
37 mins ago
Russian strikes on Ukraine in the early hours of Friday killed at least eight people, including two children, as Kyiv said it shot down a Russian strategic bomber for the first time.
40 mins ago
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by seven senior advocates of Nigeria against the National Judicial Council (NJC) and others over the alleged unlawful appointment of judges in Kogi.
43 mins ago
Police have arrested one Emmanuel Victor who is the principal suspect behind the Killing of a student of Abia State University (ABSU) Uturu, Emmanuel Uche, during a cult clash. In March, a viral video surfaced on social media, showing a 400-level History and International Relations student, being attacked by members of a rival group within…
44 mins ago
A Burundi journalist has been charged with "endangering internal security", an offence that risks up to life in prison, her lawyers and relatives said, accusing the authorities of beating her during interrogation.
45 mins ago
At least 23 people have been killed in an attack by bandits on the Anguwar Danko community in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, according to a community leader. The attack, which occurred Wednesday night, has yet to be confirmed by Kaduna State Police authorities. A leader in the community, Zubairu Abdulrahuf, told…
52 mins ago
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has placed former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on a watchlist. Immigration took this step after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday declared Bello wanted. NIS placed Bello on the watchlist in a circular dated April 18 and signed by Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, DS Umar, for…
53 mins ago
Eniola Ajao's new movie "Ajakaju" has continued to smash box office records, crossing the N2OOmillion mark less than a month after its release. The indigenous epic film, co-produced by Anthills Studio and distributed by FilmoneNg, has captured the hearts of audiences across Nigeria, crossing the impressive N200 million mark in ticket sales, according to data…
×
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.