Price of bread set to soar, as bakers commence nationwide warning strike
Umbrella body of master bakers in the country, the Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN), has embarked on a four-day warning strike with effect from Thursday, July 21 to protest escalating cost of baking supplies, as well as, failure by the Federal Government to step in.
The group further warned that at the end of the four-day warning strike, it will extend the action if their grievances are not addressed by the relevant authorities in the country.
According to a statement released earlier on Wednesday by the president of PBAN, Emmanuel Onuorah, the cost of operating a bakery in Nigeria has become all but impossible, ‘largely due to the industry’s paralysis resulting from constant price increases for fuel and baking supplies.’
“In a move to ensure the survival of the Premium breadmaking industry in Nigeria, we have decided to embark on a withdrawal of services, this is beginning from Thursday 21st July, 2022 for four days. In the first instance and where no intervention from the government, we shall escalate the duration of the withdrawal,” Onuorah said.
“The reasons for the withdrawal of services is as follows: Incessant increase in price of baking materials; Request Federal Government to stop charging 15 per cent Wheat development levy on wheat import; Request NAFDAC to review downwards the 154,000 naira penalty charged bakeries on late renewal of certificates; Grant members access to grants and soft loans which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) gives to Minor, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs); and Stoppage of multi – agencies regulation of the breadmaking industry,” the group said in the statement.
Also remarking, spokesperson for the group, Mr. Babalola Thomas, insisted that ‘withdrawal of service is the only way we believe we can use to get to the Federal Government and Nigerians; and let them know our plight and how difficult it has been with the breadmaking industry in Nigeria.’
Thomas further said that prior to embarking on the warning strike, the group had held multiple meetings with authorities at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, (FMITI) in 2021, with none yielding any result, even as he urged the Federal Government to intervene in the situation, as, according to him, ‘bread is a staple food available both for the poor and rich.’
“It, therefore, behooves the Federal Government to be mindful of this and ensure the survival and sustainability of the industry,” Thomas said.
“In a move to ensure the survival of the premium bread-making industry in Nigeria, we have decided to embark on a withdrawal of services beginning from Thursday 21st of July, 2022 for four days in the first instance and where there is no intervention from the government, we shall escalate the duration of the withdrawal,” the statement continued.
It would be recalled that, last June, another body in the industry, the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria had issued a communiqué, signed by its executives, led by Mansur Umar, declaring it would embark on a two-week industrial action to protest ‘skyrocketing costs of baking materials.’
