NIGERIA- The Food Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) has issued a communique warning relevant stakeholders over the increased influx of expats into Nigeria’s food and beverage sector, citing potential job losses.
FOBTOB’s President Jiomh Oyibo and Executive Secretary Solomon Adebosin jointly issued the communique at the end of the Association’s 15th National Delegates Conference in Delta State.
The Association called on the relevant government authorities to ensure appropriate action is taken against players in the food industry who fail to meet labor quotas for Nigerians. The Association expressed willingness to work with the government to protect Nigerian jobs.
FOBTOB warned that the influx of expats in the Nigerian food industry would negatively impact the Nigerian economy because of the potential circulation decline caused by remittances to expats’ countries of origin. To keep earnings from the sector within Nigeria’s borders, the Association said the government should implement policies and strategies that limit expat access and control over the industry.
The communique also faulted the government’s handling of various regulatory issues affecting the food and beverage industry and its failure to engage stakeholders.
“The issues of subsidy removal, increase in electricity tariff and the fall of the Naira value in the currency market harm the industry’s profitability.”
“The Federal Government must involve all stakeholders in the formulation of policies that affect the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Industry through proper engagement and thus protecting the interest of the Workers,” FOBTOB said in the communique.
Oyibo expressed a need for unity and collaboration among all stakeholders in the food industry to address all challenges plaguing the sector. He described the food, beverage, and tobacco industry as Nigeria’s economic ‘livewire’ with significant potential to boost the country’s GDP. Therefore, the government needs to involve all stakeholders when implementing any regulations, especially those meant to support labor interests.
The Association reiterated that such policies are especially important because of the ravaging inflation plaguing Nigerians.
“The hyperinflation in the economy has resulted in hunger and starvation, the Delegates therefore called on the Government to fulfill the promises made during campaigns and run the nation’s economy in a way that will make it possible for Nigerians to afford the essential commodities,” the communique added.
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