Protests grow as union challenges NAFDAC’s sachet alcohol crackdown
Protests erupted on Thursday as members of the Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Senior Staff Association continued their protest against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control over the implementation of the sachet alcohol prohibition.
The workers, who blocked the gate to NAFDAC's Lagos office, accused the agency of failing to follow what they termed joint Federal Government directions to suspend enforcement until the National Alcohol Policy was fully implemented.
However, NAFDAC denied the charges, alleging that stories claiming it was told to cease enforcement are unconfirmed and misrepresent the government's position.
The workers, who blocked the gate to NAFDAC's Lagos office, accused the agency of failing to follow what they termed joint Federal Government directions to suspend enforcement until the National Alcohol Policy was fully implemented.
However, NAFDAC denied the charges, alleging that stories claiming it was told to cease enforcement are unconfirmed and misrepresent the government's position.
The agency stated that it has not received any formal directive to halt its regulatory activities and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health.
Kolawole Buhari, National Vice President of FOBTOB West, warned demonstrators that the closure of plants and depots could result in job losses across the industry. He projected that if enforcement tactics were to continue, they would jeopardise almost 5.5 million employment.
""This action jeopardises 5.5 million employment. It is against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. Buhari stated that when employment are lost, the children whom the government claims to want to protect will be forced to live on the streets.
In response to the demonstrators, FOBTOB's National Deputy President, Lanre Yusuf, criticised the NAFDAC Director-General's statement as contradicting the Federal Government's position.
""This action jeopardises 5.5 million employment. It is against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. Buhari stated that when employment are lost, the children whom the government claims to want to protect will be forced to live on the streets.
In response to the demonstrators, FOBTOB's National Deputy President, Lanre Yusuf, criticised the NAFDAC Director-General's statement as contradicting the Federal Government's position.
He said that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser had issued a combined directive urging a stop in enforcement activities.
"The Federal Government, through the SGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser, issued a directive. "The Director-General should follow that directive and immediately reopen all factories and depots that were closed," Yusuf added.
The controversy arose after Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, clarified that, while the National Alcohol Policy had been approved by the Federal Ministry of Health under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's directive, regulatory enforcement measures, such as factory sealing, should be suspended until the policy is fully implemented.
"The Federal Government, through the SGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser, issued a directive. "The Director-General should follow that directive and immediately reopen all factories and depots that were closed," Yusuf added.
The controversy arose after Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, clarified that, while the National Alcohol Policy had been approved by the Federal Ministry of Health under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's directive, regulatory enforcement measures, such as factory sealing, should be suspended until the policy is fully implemented.
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