FOBTOB laments abuse of expatriate quota in Nigeria

UFOMBA UZUEGBU

Organized labour,under the aegis of Food ,Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) has expressed concern over the increasing number of expatriates that has been flooding the nation’s food sector.

The union also decried alleged moves by the Federal Government to further increase the Excise Duty on non-alcoholic carbonated drinks.

The President of FOBTOB, Comrade Jimoh Oyibo stated these while fielding questions from news men on the state of the nation’s economy on Thursday  in Lagos.

Oyibo said: “We are seriously disturbed by the increase in number that has flooded the companies in our industry. This is disheartening and unacceptable to us. This attitude alone has led to continuous taking over of jobs that are exclusive rights of indigenous workers.

Although, we have tackled this menace headlong in the past and I am using this medium to state that we will continue  the struggle to save our jobs”.

He recalled that the debate on the justification for the introduction of excise duty on the non-alcoholic Carbonated Drinks has been on the front burner of discussion between the National Assembly, the Customs and the Finance Ministry.

The union called on the Federal Government to engage all stakeholders constructively so as to arrive to a more beneficial conclusion to save the already struggling companies in the nation’s food sector that are only surviving on a small profit margin.

On the disbursement of FOREX for the importation of raw materials, the FOBTOB boss said: “We are not only contending with weaker currency but an unfortunate situation of non-accessibility of FOREX and a spike in capital outflow for most companies.

“Our industry is full of players with genuine intention and would do well if the FOREX is made available to them to increase the importation of raw materials.

The union appealed to government and others stakeholders to put in place strong policies that will drive the progress of the industry so that companies which are capable of creating thousands of employment from being vulnerable and run down by these challenges.

Oyibo commended their Employers Body-Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) for their efforts in ensuring that issues without escalation,and that industrial harmony is maintained in the sector