Business
Nigerian Govt’s Policies Force Manufacturers To lay off 3,567 Workers Within Six Months of 2023 – MAN

▪︎Cover image: President Bola Tinubu
THE Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) says that unfavourable policies of the government forced some of its member companies to laidoff a total of 3,567 workers in the first half of 2023.
This indicated, 855 more job lost when compared with the 1, 709 job lost in corresponding half of 2022 and 850 more jobs lost when compared with 2. 708 jobs lost in the last half of 2022.
Based on this, the Association is requesting the Federal Government to conduct a comprehensive economic impact assessment of the fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate changes, and other policy measures.
“This assessment should identify potential challenges and opportunities for the private sector and inform further adjustments to the policies if necessary,” said SegunAjayi-Kadir, the Director-General of MAN.
He pointed to the Association’s latest sectoral Employment Survey results (January to June 2023) and said, ” employment generation of the manufacturing sector declined to 6, 428 in the first half of 2023.
This is an indication of 32.8 percent reduction in employment generation capacity when compared with 9559 jobs generated in the first half of 2022.
Also, the data showed a shed of 313 jobs when compared with 6, 741 jobs created in the second half of 2022.
The decline in the number of jobs created in the sector during the period further highlighted the unfriendly business environment resulting from the hasty policies and residual effect of the currency redesign policy that led to naira crunch.
A Struggling Sector
Segun Ajayi-Kadir, noted that the manufacturing sector faced myriad of challenges in the first half of 2023.
He said that the residual effects of the Naira redesign and the removal of fuel subsidy towards the end of the period under review triggers inflationary pressure, cost of transportation, cost of production and other macroeconomics imbalances, thereby worsened the purchasing power of the households.
Unsold Inventory of Finished Products
Consequently, he disclosed that the inventory of unsold finished products in the manufacturing sector saw a significant increase to N271.96 billion during the first half of 2023, as compared to N187.08 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2022.
” This indicates a substantial rise of N84.88 billion or 45.4 percent over this timeframe.
However, there was an N11.64 billion or 4.1 percent decline when compared with the inventory value of N283.6 billion recorded in the second half of 2022.
This increase in inventory can be attributed to a weakened purchasing power of the consumers, brought about by diminishing real household income resulting from the ongoing escalation of inflationary pressures, compounded by the scarcity of naira in the first quarter of the year and the aftermath of the subsidy removal,” he said.
Business
FG Enforcing Compulsory “No Tax ID, No Bank Account Policy”
Section 8 (2) makes Tax ID mandatory for any person to operate a bank account or get involved in insurance, stocks or allied services in the country, once the Act comes into force from January 1, 2026.

The Federal Government is making it compulsory for all taxable Nigerians to obtain a compulsory Taxpayer Identification (Tax ID) when the new tax Acts come into force in January 2026.
The policy will be enforced by the Nigeria Revenue Service (formerly Federal Inland Revenue Services).
Ohibaba.com gathered that the Tax ID is contained in the provisions of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, Part II Section 4 of the legislation which was recently signed by President Bola Tinubu.
It says: “Every Taxable person shall register with the relevant Tax Authority and obtain a Taxpayer Identification Card (Tax ID) for the purpose of compliance with tax obligations.
“Every ministry, department or agency of the federal, State or Local government shall register and obtain a Tax ID.”
It said that Section 6 (1) of the Act also requires Non-resident persons who supply taxable goods and services to any person in Nigeria to obtain Tax ID, as they shall be obligated to pay tax in Nigeria.
Section 7 (3) empowers the relevant tax authority to issue Tax ID to a person who should have applied for an ID but failed to do so.
The relevant tax authority is also empowered to refuse to issue a Tax ID to an applicant based on information available to it.
In such a case, the authority shall inform the applicant of its decision within five working days.
Section 8 (1) (c) makes Tax ID a condition for entering into any contract with the Federal and State governments.
Section 8 (2) makes Tax ID mandatory for any person to operate a bank account or get involved in insurance, stocks or allied services in the country, once the Act comes into force from January 1, 2026.
The Act, however, provides an allowance to suspend or deregister the Tax ID, if the holder ceases to undertake trade or business, either temporarily or permanently.
Section 10 (1) provides, “Where a taxable person temporarily ceases to carry on a trade or business in Nigeria, the taxable person shall notify the relevant tax authority of its intention to suspend its registration for tax purposes within 30 days of such temporary cessation of trade or business.(2)
“The Tax authority shall classify the Tax ID as ‘dormant’ and place it on suspension.
(3) “Where a taxable person permanently ceases to carry on trade or business in Nigeria, the taxable person shall notify the relevant tax authority of its intention to deregister for tax purposes within 30 days of such cessation of trade or business.
Business
Nigeria to host Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027
With Lagos preparing to welcome the world in 2027, the IATF mission continues its quest to deepen trade, unlock investment, and connect Africa to itself and the world at large.

• IATF 2025 opening ceremony , 4 September, Algiers.
Nigeria has been officially picked to host the 2027 edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF).
This was announced during the opening ceremony on Thursday in Algiers, with calls for African countries to accelerate growth in Intra-African trade and boost economic integration.
At the event, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, received the IATF flag on behalf of the country as Lagos was confirmed host city for the continental fair in 2027.
The Chairman of the IATF Advisory Council and former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said, “Since its inception, the IATF has rotated across our continent, leaving its unique legacy and improving with each host nation.
“Today we continue the proud tradition by announcing the country that will host IATF2027.
“With Lagos preparing to welcome the world in 2027, the IATF mission continues its quest to deepen trade, unlock investment, and connect Africa to itself and the world at large.
Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the IATF brings together continental and global stakeholders to showcase goods and services, facilitates direct engagement and exchange between businesses and between businesses and government entities.
The fair was established to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement which aims to create a single market for goods and services across Africa.
Business
OPSN Faults Repeated Summons of Private Companies by National Assembly
OPSN members comprise the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture(NACCIMA), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists(NASS), and Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises(NASME).

The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) has expressed deep concerns over incessant invitations, summons by the committee of the National Assembly on the activities of private companies.
OPSN members comprise the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture(NACCIMA), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists(NASS), and Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises(NASME).
The Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees(AFBTE) and other 25 sectoral employers ’ associations also decried this situation.
The concern was conveyed through an open letter sent to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, which was published on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
The group said that the practice has continued unhindered despite judicial pronouncements, including a pending appeal before the Supreme Court, which affirms that the powers conferred on the National Assembly in line with sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution do not extend oversight powers to private companies.
They cite judicial precedents in the case of DHL International Nigeria Limited vs Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ORS (FHC/ABJ/CS/261/2018).
The court unequivocally held that private companies do not fall within the category of persons contemplated by sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution.
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