Nigeria to Address Grievances of Beverage Workers, Says Health Minister Pate

Coordinating Minister Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has assured that the ministry would endeavour to address the grievances by the members of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association.

The minister stated this while addressing members of the association who were at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on a peaceful protest on the ban of sachet and pet bottled alcoholic beverages.

The minister who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Kachallom Daju, promised to look into their complaints to chart a way forward.

In a statement signed by the Director (Information) at the ministry, Deworitshe Patricia, the Minister said: “What l am saying now is that we have heard your grievances, this is a listening government and we are going to discuss with partners, Trade Union Congress and other members on the way forward”.

Earlier in his speech, the National President, Food, Beverage & Tobacco Senior Staff Association, Jomoh Oyibo, expressed the association’s dissatisfaction with the ban imposed on the manufacturing, sales and consumption of alcoholic beverages in sachets and pet bottles by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC).

He explained that NAFDAC had recently banned and sealed over 25 companies producing sachet and pet bottled alcoholic drinks with the reason of curbing alcoholic abuse which has affected the entrepreneurs, dependants and the workforce negatively.

He asserted that considering the present economic dynamics in Nigeria, that the timing for the ban is not right.

He therefore appealed to the ministry for timely intervention to abate the harsh condition they are currently undergoing.

Onyebuchi Ezigbo

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