Olu Samuel, Lokoja

The Association of Master bakers has said it would withdraw it’s service Nationwide as from the 27th of February if the Federal government refuses to implement the agreement it entered into with the association since the covid-19 .

A statement from the National President of the Association Alhaji Mansur Umar read on his behalf by the Kogi state Chairman of the association, Chief Gabriel Adeniyi noted that the decision to withdraw it’s services 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.

The association said “multiple taxations from federal government agencies which includes NAFDAC, SON, NESREA, CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL, DEPARMENT OF WEIGHT AND MEASURES ETC. States and local government agencies fees and levies such as emblems, Assessment levies, touting, etc and the general hike on ease of doing business in Nigeria are also some of the reasons for the impending strike action”.

“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.”

Other demands as outlined by the association include ;Development of cultivation and processing of wheat and sugar cane in Nigeria, Removal of multiple taxations both at the federal, state and local government levels.

It also called for Immediate implementation of financial support palliatives for bakers as promised as post covid-19 support programmes for SMEs for bakers who have lost over 40% of her membership and still counting as well as Suspension of all forms of taxations on the bakery industry for now both at the federal, state and local government levels.

The association also called for setting up of price control and monitoring committee as allowed by the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as amended and other conditions that will enhance the ease of doing business in the country.

The association said it was sending out the warning as it’s decision to embark on total withdrawal of her services from 27th February 2024 might not go well with the economy of the nation, if the Government fails to heed to the cry of bakers of Nigeria mentioned above.