Nigeria’s Association of Master Bakers and Caterers (AMBCN) has declared a nationwide strike, effective February 27, 2024.
The decision was made public by the Chairman of AMBCN in Kogi, Adeniyi Gabriel, during a press conference in Lokoja. Gabriel conveyed the stance of the association on the business environment in Nigeria and issued a notice of complete service withdrawal.
Gabriel highlighted the significant price hikes of essential baking materials such as flour, sugar, yeast, vegetable oil, petrol, and diesel, attributed to subsidy removal and forex deregulation, as well as the burden of multiple taxations from federal government agencies. In response, the AMBCN demanded the liberalization of flour and sugar importation, reduction or elimination of import duties on key baking materials, concessionary forex exchange, and decreased tariff on imported wheat and sugar. They also called for the development of wheat and sugar cane cultivation and processing within Nigeria, suspension of all bakery industry taxations, and the establishment of a price control and monitoring committee for business ease.
The Association stressed that if the government does not address the challenges faced by bakers in Nigeria, they will proceed with a complete service withdrawal from February 27, 2024.