Business
Govt’s Excise Duty Puts 950,000 Manufacturing, Allied industries jobs at Risk of Layoffs
The increases in excise duty on sweetend beverages, beers, tobacco and single use plastics by the Federal Government will severely affect 950,000 direct and indirect employees in the manufacturing sector’s value chain.
Based on this, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Federal Government to reverse the 2023 Fiscal Policy Measures, and retain the 2022 -2024 excise duty roadmap as approved in the 2022 FPM.
This is to foster stability in the affected sectors and their value chain.
Otunba Francis Meshioye, President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), said that the government had better suspend the policy in the interest of the national economy.
At a press conference in Lagos, the previous day, the MAN President noted that companies in the affected industries support other businesses in their value chain, cutting across agriculture, logistics, bottling, labelling and packaging businesses, as well as factory and office staff, distribution, wholesale and retail businesses, catering for over 950,000 direct and indirect employees.
” For instance, over 37,000 sorghum farmers rely on the brewing sector for their livelihood. Unemployment rate which stands at 41 percent , puts about 489,000 existing jobs at risk and which will further widen the unemployment gap,” he said .
He explained that a crash in sale volumes and consequent cuts in production will severely impact
these businesses in the value chain, which will have a multiplier effect on the national economy.
” For instance, supplier transactions in the sector declined by over N260 billion by the end of 2022, when compared to 2021,” he said.
He said that retaining the 2023 FPM will have a negative signalling effect on current and prospective investors.
“A continuing decline in sale volumes will necessitate production cuts and a re-evaluation of investments in the sector. Specifically, if sales proceeds can no longer sustain
business overheads and operating expenses, businesses will be forced to scale
down their operations which would result in factory closures, job losses, a decline in exports and much more.
It is instructive to note that the Excise increase is a direct attack on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),” he said.
Commenting on the introduction of the Single Use Plastics tax, he said that it is necessary for the authority to reverse the tax on Single Use Plastics and engage with relevant stakeholders
to facilitate ongoing initiatives, which have a better prospect of achieving the desired environmental objectives.
“A good example of this is the Food & Beverage Recycling Alliance, approved by the federal government,” he said.
Dangote Refinery has announced a nationwide petrol price cut, ahead of the launch of its direct fuel distribution initiative now set for Monday, September 15, 2025.
Originally scheduled for August 15, the initiative will see the $20 billion, 650,000 bpd refinery deliver petrol and diesel directly to consumers using 4,000 CNG trucks, with zero logistics cost.
Despite an ongoing dispute with NUPENG, Dangote Group released a fresh price template on its X account, confirming its gantry price remains N820 per litre.
Retail prices have dropped to N841 per litre in Lagos and the South-West (from N860), and N851 per litre in Abuja, South-South, and North Central states (from N885)—a reduction of N19 to N34 per litre, depending on the location.
The new prices apply only to MRS and Dangote’s official distribution partners, as independent marketers are not bound by the template.
Meanwhile, NUPENG has threatened a fresh strike, accusing Dangote of reneging on earlier agreements—a claim the company denies, affirming workers’ right to union membership.
Business
Dangote Refinery Mgt Says Workers Union Membership is Personal Choices
It urged NUPENG to focus on resolving its internal dispute with the Petrol Tanker Drivers unit rather than “embroiling the refinery in its conflicts.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has said membership of trade unions by its employees remains voluntary and not compulsory, in line with the Nigerian Constitution and International Labour Organisation conventions.
In a statement made available to Ohibaba.com, the company accused what it described as “distortions of facts” by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers concerning its trade relations with workers.
The refinery stressed that it does not interfere with or restrict employees’ right to freely join legally recognised unions.
“It is therefore misplaced to attribute responsibility to Dangote Petroleum Refinery for the personal choices made by drivers regarding union affiliation,” the company stated.
Dangote dismissed allegations that it forced drivers to sign contracts barring union membership, describing the claim as unfounded.
It urged NUPENG to focus on resolving its internal dispute with the Petrol Tanker Drivers unit rather than “embroiling the refinery in its conflicts.
”The company added that accusations of union suppression formed part of a broader attempt to undermine private sector progress.
Business
NUPENG Dangote Union Memberships Agreement Collapses: What Happened Again?
Akporeha alleged that within 48 hours, Dantata ordered drivers to strip NUPENG stickers from their vehicles and forcefully enter the refinery in violation of union loading procedures.
The agreement between the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has collapsed, and here’s why.
The confrontation follows allegations by NUPENG that the Dangote Group reneged on a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this week, under which the refinery agreed to allow tanker drivers and other workers to freely unionise.
On Thursday, NUPENG’s National President, Williams Akporeha, accused Sayyu Aliu Dantata, a cousin of Aliko Dangote and key player in the refinery’s trucking operations, of defying the resolution reached on September 9 at the Department of State Services headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting, mediated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, affirmed the rights of Petroleum Tanker Drivers under NUPENG to unionise. Representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, DSS, and other agencies witnessed the signing of the MoU.
But Akporeha alleged that within 48 hours, Dantata ordered drivers to strip NUPENG stickers from their vehicles and forcefully enter the refinery in violation of union loading procedures.
“Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata flew over them several times with his helicopter and then called the navy of the Federal Republic to come over ostensibly to crush the union officials. Our members are waiting for him and his agents to run them over,” Akporeha said in a statement.
The union condemned what it described as Dantata’s “impunity” and warned the Federal Government not to allow security agencies funded by taxpayers to be used against workers.
JUST IN: FBI Releases Video of Charlie Kirk Shooter, Recovers Weapons Nearby (Photos)
IBADAN: Early Morning Fire Destroys Shops, Millions Lost in Property
Burkina Faso Grants Visa-Free Entry to All African Nationals
Tech Expert, Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander
Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
SAINT OBI: Between his marriage and his death
-
News2 days ago15 die While Returning from Jehovah’s Witnesses Convention
-
International2 days agoTrump vows to hunts down killers of Charlie Kirk, global leaders react
-
Business2 days agoFacebook, Others Pay Nigerian Govt N600bn VAT
-
News2 days agoTinubu orders FEC committee to crash food prices
-
News11 hours agoHilda Baci Cooking World’s Largest Pot of Jollof Rice Today at Eko Hotel
-
Business2 days agoFG gazettes new tax reform laws
-
News2 days agoNigeria’s National grid collapses plunge 36 cities into darkness
-
Business11 hours agoDangote Refinery Mgt Says Workers Union Membership is Personal Choices