The Federal Government has said it will wade into the controversy arising from the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles that are smaller than 200 mls.
The ban which was handed down by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on health grounds, and consumption by minors has generated crisis with stakeholders in the business disagreeing with the proscription, claiming if allow to stand, would amount to high job loss.
Their grievances is finding expression in protest from various quarters including: Employees of Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), and members of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB).
The latter staged a protest at the premises of the Federal Ministry of Health on Wednesday.
In the course of it, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Kachallom Daju had talks with them, promising that government would step into the matter.
The government’s pledge was contained in a statement the ministry’s Director of Information, Patricia Deworitshe released.
Quoting Daju, Deworitshe wrote, “What I am saying now is that we have heard your grievances. This is a listening government. We are going to discuss with partners, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other members on the way forward.”
