Organised unions in the real sector, namely; Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (FOBTOB) and National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees of Nigeria (NUFBTE) have appealed to members of the Senate to protect the investment of manufacturers of sachet and small plastic bottle alcohol drinks, valued at over N3 trillion.
Addressing Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN) on Tuesday in Yaba, FOBTOB president, Comrade Jimoh Oyibo, called on lawmakers to save the country from policy summersault, as it planned to ban after government had earlier approved establishment of those manufacturers of the alcohol drinks
“Without any iota of doubt, Nigeria has become a sachet drinks economy based on its pocket-friendliness. With planned enforcement of the ban, it will create the wrong impression in the minds of would-be investors and about 50,000 would lose jobs, ” Oyibo said.
According to Oyibo, ‘enforcement of the ban would lead to smuggling thereby turning Nigeria into a dumping ground and it would make many lose their jobs with children no longer able to go to schools and increase many street children.’
“The Senate should invite all stakeholders before the planned blanket ban which would be counterproductive in that the same government that gave approval is turning back to cancel the same investments.
“We encourage the Senate Committee to have an on-the-spot assessment by visiting these companies to have a firsthand understanding of the huge investments that will be laid to waste if the order on the ban is carried out.
“As FOBTOB, we are committed to ensuring that our employers comply with the highest regulations and standards (since our members are the ones involved in the production of these beverages).
“With this ban in place, the government will lose revenue that would have come from the taxes to be paid by these members who will lose their jobs, ” he said.
On his part, the president of NUFBTE, Comrade Ibrahim Garba reminded the lawmakers that the federal government will also lose much as Customs Service’s targeted revenue would be affected through the drinks.
In his chat with LEADERSHIP, Garba, lamenting the consequences, appealed to the Senate to reconsider the plan in view of the harm it will do considering many direct and indirect jobs that would be affected as the ban would only encourage fake ones and smuggling that would not be beneficial to the economy.
