A split emerges in the baking industry as a faction within the community refuses to partake in a nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Tuesday. The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria revealed their intentions to initiate the strike on February 27 unless the government upholds a 2020 agreement and halts taxation on the bakery sector across all administrative levels.
Mansur Umar, the National President of AMBCON, cited the urgent need for the liberalization of flour and sugar imports, the reduction or elimination of import duties on essential baking ingredients, and the provision of favorable foreign exchange rates to industry players. The association also urged for a decrease in tariffs on imported wheat and sugar, along with the establishment of a price control and monitoring committee to streamline business operations in compliance with the amended constitution.
Contrary to this stance, the Supreme Bakers and Confectioners Association of Nigeria distanced themselves from the strike proposal, emphasizing solidarity with the populace during a period of national hardship. Edmund Egbuji, the association’s acting National President, discouraged members from participating in the strike, denouncing the act as unpatriotic given the prevailing food insecurity and scarcity in the nation.
Amid escalating tensions and differing perspectives within the baking community, the call for a collaborative dialogue between relevant government ministries and industry stakeholders emerges as a potential solution to alleviate the challenges faced by the citizenry. As the sector stands at a crossroads, the decision to strike or abstain poses critical implications for the nation’s food security and societal well-being.
