The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria has announced that it is poised to begin a nationwide strike on Tuesday, February 27.
In a statement on Monday announcing the strike, the National President of AMBCON, Mansur Umar, said unless the Federal Government honours the agreement made with the association in 2020, the strike would commence.
Bakers play a vital role in the food supply chain, providing essential products such as bread, pastries, and confectioneries to millions of Nigerians on a daily basis. However, the sector is grappling with a myriad of challenges that threaten its viability and sustainability. Chief among these challenges is the fluctuating cost of ingredients, particularly flour, sugar, and other essential raw materials. Additionally, rising energy costs, transportation challenges, and regulatory bottlenecks further compound the woes faced by bakers across the country.
It also called for the temporary suspension of all types of taxation on the bakery industry at the federal, state, and local government levels.
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“The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria has critically accessed the state of our business operation, consequently demands the liberalisation of flour and sugar importation, the reduction or total removal of import duties on major baking materials such as flour, sugar, butter, yeast, etc. as applicable to other commodities, as has recently been done by the Federal Government, and the provision of concessionary forex exchange to flour millers and other stakeholders, as well as a reduction of tariffs on imported wheat and sugar,” it said.
It also called for the setting up of a price control and monitoring committee as allowed by the Constitution as amended and other conditions that will enhance the ease of doing business in the country.
The planned nationwide strike by bakers has raised concerns about its potential impact on the availability and affordability of bread and other baked goods across the country. Given the indispensability of bread as a staple food item for many Nigerians, any disruption in its supply chain could have far-reaching consequences for household budgets and nutritional security. Moreover, the broader economic implications of the strike, including lost revenues, job losses, and disruptions to ancillary industries, cannot be overlooked.
As the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria prepares to embark on a nationwide strike, the spotlight is firmly on the challenges facing the baking industry and the urgent need for reforms. By advocating for the establishment of a price control and monitoring committee, as well as other measures to enhance the ease of doing business, bakers are seeking to safeguard their livelihoods and ensure the continued availability of affordable bread for all Nigerians. As stakeholders engage in dialogue to address these issues, it is imperative that the interests of both producers and consumers are taken into account, with a view to fostering a more resilient and inclusive economy for the benefit of all.
