Union protests, gives NAFDAC 14 days to reverse sachet alcohol ban

Olota of Ota advises NAFDAC to rethink ban

FOOD, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association ( FOBTOB), yesterday, protested at the headquarters of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC) against the ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets and small bottles below 200ml.

The union, which is an affiliate of Trade Union Congress ( TUC), asked NAFDAC to reverse the ban within 14 days, warning that if the agency fails to reverse the ban, the protest would continue in all NAFDAC offices nationwide.

Speaking during the protest, the National President of FOBTOB, Jimoh Oyibo, who submitted a letter containing a five- point demand of the union to NAFDAC, stated that the ban was ill- timed and ill- advised, adding that the Nigeria government should rather support businesses to stay afloat in this period of harsh economic environment, which has led many companies to close down.

He lamented that the ban would affect the union, considering that a good number of the union members work in the distilling and blending companies.

Oyibo said that from available data, more than 5,000 Nigerians workers are in the distilling and blending sector of the country’s economy.

He noted that the ban by NAFDAC had led to the closure of some companies, including the largest distilling and blending company in Nigeria.

Addressing the union, the Deputy Director, Human Resources, NAFDAC, Mr Adeyemi Omolehin, said the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, was not available and promised to convey their message to her.