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.
Business
Obi Sees Something Good in Tinubu’s “Naira Float Policy ‘
The policy was introduced by the Tinubu administration in June 2023 as part of wider foreign exchange reforms.
The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has said he would retain President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s naira float policy if elected president.
The policy was introduced by the Tinubu administration in June 2023 as part of wider foreign exchange reforms.
The Central Bank of Nigeria removed restrictions at the Investors and Exporters foreign exchange window, allowing the naira to trade more freely against the dollar and other major currencies
Obi made the disclosure in a public statement on air, emphasising that his administration would seek to strengthen the currency by prioritising productivity and increasing economic output rather than reversing the floating exchange-rate framework.
Asked to identify one policy of the Tinubu administration he would keep if elected, Obi said, “There’s one – the floating of the Naira. I’m not going to defend it. But I’m going to put productivity to make it more valuable to the people.”
His position means he would maintain the floating exchange-rate system while seeking to change the economic conditions that determine the strength and value of the naira.
Business
Dangote Refinery Buys 16m Barrels Of Nigerian Crude For October
The October supply is equivalent to about 520,000 barrels per day, representing most of the refinery’s 700,000 barrels-per-day processing capacity.
Dangote Refinery has bought at least 16 million barrels of Nigerian crude oil for delivery in October.
Reuters reported that the 16 million barrels comprise monthly crude allocations from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company and additional volumes purchased through a tender.
The October supply is equivalent to about 520,000 barrels per day, representing most of the refinery’s 700,000 barrels-per-day processing capacity.
The increased crude purchases highlight the refinery’s rising demand for feedstock as it expands operations and moves closer to operating at a larger share of its installed capacity.
Business
Brent crude slid to around $106 per barrel
Top US officials reportedly warned President Donald Trump that the war could continue through the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2029.
Brent crude slid to around $106 per barrel on Friday in a likely technical correction, but was still set to end the week sharply higher as the escalating conflict between the US and Iran fueled concerns over prolonged disruptions to global energy supplies.
Top US officials reportedly warned President Donald Trump that the war could continue through the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2029.
Meanwhile, Iranian leaders are reportedly determined to continue fighting despite mounting economic costs, viewing the conflict as an existential threat.
They also claim that Tehran has managed to rebuild its missile capabilities and could intensify attacks on US and Gulf assets if Washington escalates its own strikes.
Fighting has intensified over the past two weeks, with the US targeting Iranian oil tankers while Iran launched missiles at US warships and tankers in the Persian Gulf, as well as American assets in neighboring countries.
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