Bread makers to embark ono nationwide strike

Bread makers and caterers across the nation have announced their decision to carry on a nationwide strike starting from the 27th of this month, February.

The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, AMBCON, in a statement, said that their decision to go on strike is due to the failure of the Federal Government to implement the agreement it entered into with the association in 2020.

The National President of AMBCON, Mansur Umar, made this known in a statement read on his behalf by the Kogi State Chairman of the association, Gabriel Adeniyi, on Tuesday.

The association expressed concern over the rising costs of materials used by its members and urged for the prompt implementation of financial support measures for bakers, as previously pledged by the Federal Government. These measures are part of the post COVID-19 support programs for Small and Medium Enterprises, aimed at assisting bakers who have experienced a significant decline in membership.

Additionally, it proposed a temporary halt to all taxation on the bakery industry, including at the Federal, state, and Local Government levels.

The statement by the association said the strike was due to the “multifarious increase in the prices of baking materials such as flour, sugar, yeast, vegetable oil, petrol, diesel all occasioned by subsidy removal and forex deregulation.”

It added that, “Multiple taxations from several federal, state, local government agencies fees and levies, hike in business activities in Nigeria are also some of the reasons for the impending strike action.”

The statement noted that, “The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria have critically accessed the state of our business operation, consequently demand the liberalisation of flour and sugar importation, reduction or total removal of import duties on major baking materials such as flour, sugar, butter, yeast etc as applicable to other commodities as have recently been done by the federal government and Provision of concessionary forex exchange to flour millers and other stakeholders as well as reduction of tariff on imported wheat and sugar.”

The association has also highlighted additional requests, such as the advancement of wheat and sugar cane cultivation and processing in Nigeria, as well as the elimination of excessive tax burdens imposed by various levels of government.

AMBCON also proposed the establishment of a committee to control and monitor prices, in accordance with the amended constitution and other measures to enhance the business environment in the country.