By Joan Nwagwu
The Food Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB), has pickets the headquarters of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets and pet bottles.
FOBTOB is an affiliate under the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria.
It would be recalled NAFDAC had put a ban on the production and sales of alcoholic products in sachets and pet bottles below 200ml.That the ban was to protect minors.
The agency also said the alcohol level of PET bottles and sachets was thirty percent, compared to four to eight percent in beer.
Mr Oyibo Jimoh, National President of FOBTOB, described the action as ‘economic sabotage’.
According to him, it is unjust that the government will take such a drastic decision at this critical time, without taking into account the thousands of businesses and jobs that will be negatively affected.
“If the ban is not lifted, it could result in the government losing revenue, promoting smuggling into the nation, undermining investor confidence, and further depressing the economy,”he said.
He noted that FOBTOB was a registered Trade Union in Nigeria and an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria with a membership of over 8,000.
He said that most of its members worked
in distilling and blending companies and from available data, more than 500,000 Nigerian workers were in the distilling and blending sector of our economy.
“Our Association considers the NAFDAC action as a wilful and deliberate economic sabotage as the implementation is coming at a time when the economy is on a downward spiral.
“It is instructive to state that workers in these companies pay various forms of taxes to the government at different levels while the companies in the sector also contribute significantly to the economy through job creation and taxes.
“The sector is a chain from the producer to the major marketers, distributors, and retailers. The impact on the families of millions of Nigerians who are dependent on these workers is indescribable.
“Also, the ban will erode investors’ confidence in our economy. This should not be added to the hydra-headed challenges that our economy is facing already,”he said.
Jimoh added that the ban was ill-timed and ill- advised because the Nigerian government should rather support businesses to stay afloat in this period of harsh economic environment which has led many companies to close down.
The union president further noted that the argument that the used-sachet litters the environment would be easily addressed if the government invests in and encourages recycling.
“This will support the government’s plan to create jobs, which will in tum result in more revenue for the government in form of company and personal
income tax.
“We are of the opinion that NAFDAC should concentrate on working with the relevant government agencies to prevent and confiscate smuggled products that have found their way to the Nigerian market via unguarded entry points.
“Our Association, FOBTOB, is available to partner with NAFDAC to regulate the industry and make our products safe for the public.” He stated.
Oyibo therefore, called for the Immediate reversal of the ban, immediate consultation with stakeholders in the sector and improved campaign on responsible drinking and discouraging underaged alcohol consumption.
He also demanded an effective monitoring of the borders to reduce smuggling of products into the country as well as recommendation by the Committee on legislation to encourage recycling of materials for the promotion of green economy.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)