The contentious issue surrounding NAFDAC’s prohibition of alcohol sachets persists as members of the Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Senior Staff Association of Nigeria have issued a 14-day ultimatum for the regulatory agency to retract its directive or face additional demonstrations nationwide. Aligned with the Trade Union Congress, the association contends that the ban will adversely affect the livelihoods of numerous employees within the sector.
Under the leadership of their national president, Mr. Jimoh Oyibo, the association organized demonstrations and delivered a formal letter outlining their demands to NAFDAC. The protests extended to Ogun State, where workers paraded through the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, reiterating their call for the reversal of the prohibition on alcohol sachets.
The guild’s opposition highlights the significant repercussions of NAFDAC’s edict on the workforce of the beverage industry. With apprehensions regarding unemployment and economic fallout, the association underscores the necessity of addressing the ban’s impact on employees’ means of sustenance.
NAFDAC’s verdict to outlaw alcohol sachets has ignited widespread discontent and mobilization among industry laborers, who perceive the prohibition as a menace to their employment and financial stability. The demonstrations serve as a tangible manifestation of the sector’s apprehensions and the pressing requirement for dialogue and resolution.
As the deadline for NAFDAC’s response draws near, tensions within the sector remain palpable, with employees and union representatives resolute in their determination to ensure that their grievances are acknowledged and redressed. The outcome of the standoff between NAFDAC and industry workers is poised to have significant ramifications for the future regulation of alcohol pouches in Nigeria.
