National Union Of Tobacco And Food Beverage Members Protest Ban [VIDEO]

Members of the National Union of Tobacco and Food Beverage oppose the ban on sachet alcoholic beverages

Unions say 500,000 jobs are at risk from NAFDAC's sachet alcohol ban

The National Union of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) and the Food Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FBTSSA) have expressed their concerns about the government's ban on sachet alcohol.

About 500,000 jobs are at risk as a result of this regulatory action, according to a joint press release released on Tuesday.

The unions articulated their distress, saying: “This singular action (the ban) has sent over 500,000 breadwinners out of jobs and into the oversaturated Nigerian labour market.”

They also criticized the policy for making the country's economic problems worse and possibly making companies that make these drinks close.

Members of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DBAN) assembled at the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) headquarters in Oshodi, Lagos, to voice their opposition to this ban in a passionate demonstration.

Idogen Emmanuel, the Vice Chairman of the Trade Union Congress's Lagos Chapter, discussed the industry's difficulties during the demonstration. He emphasized the negative effects of recent policy changes, such as the ban, as well as the more general financial difficulties that manufacturers face as a result of the elimination of fuel subsidies and fluctuations in currency values.

Emmanuel demanded that the ban be reexamined and criticized NAFDAC's actions for being harmful to the workforce, especially in light of the current difficult economic situation.

He recommended that a conversation be started to investigate workable alternatives in place of complete closures, stressing the industry's readiness to raise public awareness about the age limits on alcohol sales.

Emmanuel stated: “Last Thursday, NAFDAC moved to go and seal up all our companies producing sachet drinks, forgetting that the economy is so tense and harsh, and they want to throw millions of persons back into the labor market. The excuse of NAFDAC is that small children consume these sachet drinks, but it is boldly written on all our sachet drinks that it is meant for persons aged 18 and above.

“We are battling with the hardship of the fuel subsidy removal and dollar floating as manufacturers and now the government just decided to seal up companies because they said small children are consuming it (alcohol). It is an aberration.

 

“We are appealing to NAFDAC to reopen these companies so that we can come to a round table and look for a way forward. If they feel that we are not doing enough to sensitise the public, retailers and wholesalers on the need for them not to sell to children, we are ready to do more but it is wrong to close the companies at this time that the economy of the nation is unstable.”

The commencement of strict enforcement against the import, production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets, PET, and tiny glass bottles (200ml and below) was the announcement made by Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, which set off this protest.

This action comes after a January 2022 decision to stop registering such products in an effort to reduce the amount of alcohol available in readily available formats.

Prof. Adeyeye cited a cooperative directive from December 2018 that aimed to restrict the registration of new alcoholic products in these small packaging forms and involved the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, and other industry stakeholders.

NAFDAC has started enforcing this ban as things develop, and several factories have already been shut down for breaking the new rules prohibiting sachet alcoholic beverages.

This measure signifies a noteworthy shift in Nigeria's strategy towards controlling alcohol intake, carrying extensive consequences for the country's economy and social structure.