Workers Unite: Labour Union’s Battle NAFDAC’s Amid Sachet Alcohol Ban

Workers Unite: Labour Union’s Battle NAFDAC’s Amid Sa chet Alcohol Ban

In a stirring display of solidarity, workers from across Lagos converged outside the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) office….Read More NAFDAC Cracks Down: Seals Sachet Alcohol Production Lines In Beverage Giants

Their impassioned voices demanding respite from the suffocating grip of the sachet alcohol ban.

Led by stalwarts of Organised Labour, including the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria and the National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), the protestors wielded placards bearing the rallying cry, “NAFDAC, let us breathe.” It was a poignant plea representing the anguish of thousands, fearful of imminent job losses and economic upheaval.

The ban, enforced under the auspices of NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye, has ignited a firestorm of discontent among workers, who foresee the decimation of over 45,000 jobs and billions in investments.

Olamide Somefun, Vice Chairman of the Food Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, articulated the collective anxiety, issuing a stark warning of the impending collapse of local industries that serve as the lifeblood of countless families.

While NAFDAC cites concerns over underage access to these pint-sized alcoholic concoctions as the rationale behind the prohibition, NUFBTE members argue that the ban imperils not only their livelihoods but also the economic stability of entire communities.

Initiated as part of a phased elimination plan in 2019, the ban had set a timeline for gradual reduction and eventual eradication by 2024. NAFDAC stands firm in its adherence to this timeline, signaling the cessation of production licenses for the banned products post-January 2024.

As the standoff intensifies, workers continue their impassioned appeal to NAFDAC, beseeching the agency to reconsider its stance and explore alternative measures that safeguard both public health and economic prosperity.