Business

Govt’s Excise Duty Puts 950,000 Manufacturing, Allied industries jobs at Risk of Layoffs

Published

3 years ago

May 18, 2023

632 Views

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.

Business

Naira Exchange Rates Thursday, August 27

Today, the Naira Black Market exchange rate for 1 US Dollar is 1405 Naira, while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sets the official exchange rate for the Nigerian Naira against dollars at N1,343.59.

Published

8 hours ago

August 27, 2026

OCHEFA

14 Views

Today, the Naira Black Market exchange rate for 1 US Dollar is 1405 Naira, while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sets the official exchange rate for the Naira against dollars at N1,343.59

BLACK MARKET RATES

US Dollar (USD) Buy ₦1,405 Sell ₦1,410

Great British Pound(GBP) Buy ₦1,895 Sell: ₦1,915

EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1,595 Sell ₦1,615

Canadian Dollar (CAD) Buy ₦1,020 Sell ₦1,080

South African Rand (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90

Ghana CEDI (GHS) Buy ₦95 Sell ₦110

West African CFA Buy ₦2, 300 Sell ₦2, 400

CENTRAL AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2,150 Sell 2,250

CBN Exchange Rates

US Dollar (USD) ₦1,343.59

Great British Pound (GBP) ₦1,827.96

EURO (EUR) ₦1,566.09

Swiss Franc (CHF) ₦1,668.44

Chinese Yuan (CNY) ₦199.87

Japanese Yen (Yen) ₦8.43

West African CFA (XOF) ₦2. 39

West African Unit Account (WAUA) ₦1,847.86

Saudi Riyal (SAR) ₦357.84

South African Rand (ZAR) ₦84.16

Business

Meta U.S. agrees to pay $18bn lawsuits over children’s social media addiction

Meta agreed for the next decade to restrict teenagers’ use of Facebook and Instagram to two hours a day and block all usage from midnight to 6 a.m., absent parental consent.

Published

17 hours ago

August 26, 2026

OCHEFA

15 Views

Meta Platforms on Wednesday agreed to make major changes to Facebook and Instagram and pay up to $18 billion to resolve claims by most U.S. states that it designed those platforms to addict children and misled consumers about their safety.

Reuters reported that the settlements end a federal trial that had been one of the highest-profile tests of allegations that social media companies harm children.

It said that while Meta will not undergo a fundamental overhaul, the ‌accords represent a sweeping effort to define how it serves young users.

The focus of this case was to protect our kids,” Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement.

“The relief we are getting in this settlement is very meaningful and well beyond what any court has ordered or is likely to order.”

Meta agreed for the next decade to restrict teenagers’ use of Facebook and Instagram to two hours a day and block all usage from midnight to 6 a.m., absent parental consent.

These limits could be tightened if other social media companies adopt similar terms.

Meta will also enhance measures to prevent children from accessing age-restricted content.

The settlement does not require Meta, which denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle, to abandon personalized recommendations or targeted advertising.

The total payout represents about three to four months of profit for the Menlo ⁠Park, California-based company.