The new excise duty on soft drinks announced by the Federal Government may lead to job loss and business failures if implemented, according to stakeholders.
The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and some economists sounded the warning in separate reactions to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed’s recent announcement.
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has appealed to the Federal Government to encourage dialogue and engagement to resolve issues in a friendly and peaceful manner within the provisions of the law when dealing with businesses.
The Pro-business group made the call in Lagos on Tuesday following the recent sealing of the premises of Nestlé Nigeria Plc by officials of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).
The Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend its planned forex restriction on milk imports, saying that the initiative could potentially cripple businesses in the sector.
The call was made by the Director-General of NECA, Mr Timothy Olawale, on Thursday at a business forum in Lagos, while speaking on the need to gauge the suitability or otherwise of the policy at this time. He noted that the apex bank should engage in extensive consultation with all stakeholders by creating an environment that would enable it to weigh the merits and demerits of the policy in the long term.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by the Nigeria Employer’s Consultative Association (NECA) and Nigerian Breweries Plc (“NB”) against the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) on whether sales promotions operated by companies are regulated by the lottery commission.
A statement in Lagos on Wednesday said NECA and Nigerian Breweries had on November 15, 2018 dragged the NLRC to court, asking it to determine certain issues regarding the power of the commission in regulating sales promotion and others.
Nigerian Breweries Plc has said it has no intention to deprive the government of its revenue and thus complies with all legitimate demands of government agencies.
The statement is the latest development in the ongoing dispute between the brewer and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC). The NLRC on 12th and 13th November had shut down the Lagos and Abuja offices of Nigerian Breweries over alleged disputed promotional fees.
Nigerian Breweries Plc said on Wednesday it has always ensured that it complies with all legitimate demands of government agencies which are in accordance with the rule of law and has never sought to or seek to deprive government of its legitimate revenue.
The brewing company spoke through a statement released by its Head of Government Relations, Vivian Ikem, who said that Nigerian Breweries, since it was established over 70 years ago, has remained one of the highest contributors to government revenue through taxes and levies paid to various levels of government.
The Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), an umbrella union of employers in the food, beverage and tobacco sector, said it was saddened by the closure of some companies by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).
The National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) at the weekend responded to critics of its recent action to temporarily close the offices of Nigerian Breweries Plc (“NB”), instead blaming the brewing company for the events that led to the closure.
The commission said that Nigerian Breweries owes it N326 million in taxes and continued to rebuff all attempts by the agency to enforce the National Lottery Act, 2005.
Nigerian Breweries Plc, on Wednesday released a statement on the ongoing dispute with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).
In the statement, the company confirmed the sealing of its Corporate Headquarters in Lagos and two other offices in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja on the 12th and 13th of November by officials of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.
The Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has condemned the actions of the Director-General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila, for what it sees as his high handedness and lack of regard for the rule of law, to close down the offices of Nigerian Breweries Plc.
