N10 per litre tax on soft drinks: 15,000 direct, indirect jobs on the line— NLC, LCCI, MAN, NACCIMA

By Peter Egwuatu, Yinka Kolawole & Victor Ahiuma-Young

Stakeholders in the Nigerian economy have faulted the Federal Government on the introduction of excise duty of N10/liter on non-alcoholic carbonated and sweetened beverages, noting that the move will lead to contraction of production output, loss of industry revenue and ultimately loss of jobs.

FG has no argument — Labour

Organised Labour in the Food and Beverage sector under the aegis of National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE, said implementation of the new levy could cost not less than 15,000 direct and indirect job losses, including casuals and contract workers.

Acting General Secretary of the Union, Mike Olarewaju, said all arguments by government on imposition of the levy had been punctuated in a letter by NLC to President Buhari, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives among others.

According to him, because of the negative consequences, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Wabba, recently petitioned President Buhari, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Minister of Labour and Employment warning against a re-introduction of excise duty on carbonated drinks.

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