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Clampdown on distillers: Six million job-loss looming! *NAFDAC sabotaging Tinubu – workers
Close to six million Nigerians are set to lose their jobs due to the decision of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to commence the enforcement of the ban on alcohols sold in sachet in the country.
The alarm was raised by members of the Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) and the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), who warned that the enforcement would displace no fewer than 5.5 million Nigerians from their jobs.
At the Lagos office of the agency, where they converged to register their grievances, the two unions, affiliates of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), warned about the consequences of throwing such a huge number of Nigerians in the job market.
Arguing that such a move was not only counter-productive, but antithetical to the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu not only to curb the massive unemployment in the country but to boost the Nigerian economy, as well as reduce hunger, the members called for a rethink, especially as the government had already intervened on the matter.
The protest came on the heels of announcement of the agency that it had commenced enforcing the ban on the production and sale of alcohol in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml, a plan it unveiled on November 11, 2025, with commencement date initially fixed for December 2025, in line with a directive from the Senate.
Reports say, the Federal Government, had actually halted the mover through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), which called for an immediate suspension of all actions and measures related to the proposed ban, pending consultations and a final directive.
Apparently ignoring the SGF, Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC Director-General, had told reporters on Wednesday, that it received a matching order from the Red Chamber of NASS to proceed and that enforcement had already commenced.
But railing against the move Solomon Adebosin, Executive Secretary of FOBTOB, while alerting that the enforcement would displace no fewer than 5.5 million direct and indirect jobs, stressed that the policy undermined Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, seeking to attract investment into the country.
Debunking the agency’s claims that sachet alcohol and PET drinks were accessible to minors and children, he said there was no credible information to back it up and it lacked empirical facts.
His words: “We are here today to protest the sudden seizure of our companies in the distillery sector by NAFDAC concerning the issue of sachet drinks and PET bottles that are less than 200ml.
“We have 500,000 Nigerians working directly in this sector and over five million working indirectly, and they are going to be affected. Access and control are what we should be talking about. Let us be able to put control on these things such that children and minors do not have access to them. We have continued to invest in advocacy and sensitisation to prevent unqualified persons from consuming their products.”
Echoing the position, Azeez Razaq Head of Department, Brewery and Tobacco, of the NUFBTE, stressed that the actions of NAFDAC, depicted deliberate sabotage of the growth of indigenous manufacturers and a violation of the Federal Government’s directive.
Emphasising that the ban would lead to shutting down the companies, concomitant job losses, and ultimately worsen insecurity in Nigeria, he said it would not augur well for Nigeria for anyone to think of creating more troubles for Tinubu.
Anthony Oyagha, a member of FOBTOB, while presenting details of the union’s demands, insisted that NAFDAC must toe the line of Tinubu’s policies of creating jobs for Nigerians and boosting the economy in addition to boosting local production.
His words: “We call on the Presidency to urgently intervene to ensure that NAFDAC aligns its actions with government policy, legislative oversight, and the broader national interest.
“Local manufacturers deserve honour, protection, and partnership, not punitive measures that destroy investments, livelihoods, and confidence in Nigeria’s business environment.
“We respectfully urge Mr President to act decisively to safeguard indigenous industries, protect jobs, and ensure that regulatory agencies serve the Nigerian people and not external interests.”
“It demonstrates, in the clearest possible terms, that when citizens act with unity, clarity of purpose, and resolve, they can indeed move mountains.”
These were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reacted to Tuesday’s agreement of the 10th Senate to reverse the controversial provisions in the Electoral Amendment Bill, in which they earlier retained the discretionary provision of transmission of results of election electronically by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the coalition party, attributing the U-turn to the resilience of Nigerians, described the development as a victory for democracy and people-powered civic action.
Abdullahi, a former Minister, who called on Nigerians to stay alert and continue mounting pressure on relevant authorities until the amended bill secures presidential assent, is duly gazetted, and takes full legal effect, urged Nigerians to maintain eternal vigilance.
Following a groundswell of outrage across the country, regarding its initial decision to retain the 2022 provision and subsequent protests, which saw Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 and Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor Rivers State, teaming up with a group of Nigerians on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, the Senate eventually bowed to pressure mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit elections to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), real time, but with a proviso to use manual collation only as a contingency in cases of technological failure.
Hailing the development, ADC stated that the recant by the lawmakers was beyond a simple legislative reversal, but a reflection of the resilience, alertness, and growing political awareness of Nigerians from all segments of society.
The statement, added: “The decision of the 10th Senate to urgently reverse the contentious provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill that it passed is a significant victory for the Nigerian people.
“This outcome is not merely a legislative U-turn. It is a testament to the resilience, vigilance, and rising political consciousness of Nigerians across all walks of life. From street protests to digital campaigns, the Nigerian people have once again shown that sovereignty truly belongs to them.
“In the face of the ruling APC’s habitual disregard for due process and democratic values, the Nigerian people have reaffirmed their place as the ultimate custodians of our democracy.
“In this regard, the African Democratic Congress salutes the courage and tenacity of Nigerians. We commend every citizen who raised their voice, whether online or offline, to resist legislative mischief that threatened to undermine our electoral integrity.”
Calling on Nigerians to remain steadfast, stressing that the development represents only a step in the right direction, not the final victory, the party, added: “We must now ensure that this momentum is sustained until the amended bill is not only passed but duly assented to by the President, properly gazetted, and becomes an enforceable law of the Federal Republic.
“We must remain vigilant to ensure there are no last-minute betrayals or technical ambiguities, the kind that often lead to ‘stories that touch.’ Let this be a reminder that democracy does not thrive in silence or indifference. It demands participation, persistence, and sometimes, peaceful defiance.”
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has once again intervened to stem the political schism between the Rivers State House of Assembly and Siminalayi Fubara, the governor that would have led to the latter’s impeachment.
But the Minister, left a caveat – this is the last time the President would be making such an intervention – as he added that both sides would now have to work according to the terms agreed at the parley.
In the latest faceoff which started early in the year, 27 members of the assembly said to be loyal to Wike, had launched a fresh impeachment move against the governor – the third since he took office in 2023, accusing him of sundry infractions of the constitution including spending money without appropriation.
Fubara, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), last year, was believed to have run to the President for succour, whose intervention is believed to have halted the move.
Giving details of the rapprochement, Wike told reporters in Abuja, on Tuesday that the President playing a fatherly role stepped in to resolve disputes between the two parties.
His words: “He is very kind to the people of the state. If there seems to be any problem between the legislature and the governor, as a father, he really has to intervene.
“This is the second time Mr President is intervening and I believe by the grace of God that this will be the last time Mr President will intervene.”
Wike, who has since been linked to the crises from the outset and in firm grips of the lawmakers, also pointed out his own role in the matter, saying: “I have told them to obey Mr President and I know that they would not hesitate.”
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday finally sent the name of Usman Isa Dakingari, former Governor of Kebbi State to the Senate for confirmation as as a non-career ambassador after last month’s embarrassing mix-up in which his name suddenly appeared for posting to Turkey without legislative clearance.
Tinubu, in a correspondence conveying the appointment, which was read by Godswill Akpabio, said: “I write for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Usman Isa Dakingari as non-career ambassador,.
“Whilst I hope that the senate will consider and confirm the nominee expeditiously, please accept, distinguished senate president, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
After reading the letter at plenary, the Senate President, said the matter would be referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration and report back to the Committee of Whole within one week.
Electoral Act: Don’t go to sleep, maintain eternal vigilance, ADC tells Nigerians
This is the last time Tinubu will intervene in Rivers’ row – Wike
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