The Guardian (Nigeria)

Suspension of tariff hike on tobacco saves 165,000 jobs, says NUFBTE

- By Gloria Ehiaghe

THE suspension of the initial plan by the Federal Government to increase excise tariff by more than 500 per cent on spirit, wines and tobacco products saved over 165,000 jobs, the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), has said.

The union said with its interventi­on and special appeal made to the government to suspend the implementa­tion of the increase, it saved the looming extinction of the affected companies, thereby saving direct and indirect jobs of more than 165,000 Nigerians.

The union however commended President Muhammadu Buhari for creating an enabling environmen­t in the sector, which has brought about effective and efficient union practice and administra­tion among the workers.

It argued that with the sense of urgency and responsive­ness of the president in addressing the plight of manufactur­ers in the sector, there has been direct and indirect pro- motion of collaborat­ive strategy between the employers and unions, which has brought about relative growth in the sector.

National President of NUFBTE, Lateef Idowu Oyelekan, said the approval granted for moratorium period for local sourcing of tomato paste and vegetable fat made it possible for the concerned manufactur­ers to effectivel­y embark on aggressive backward integratio­n and locally source their materials at the union’s instance.

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