The Food Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, FBTSS,and National Union of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employee, NUFBTE, have said over 500,000 workers will lose their jobs as a result of theban onsale and consumption of alcohol in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

The associations spokeyesterday during a protest at the Lagos office of the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC.

The protesters while calling on the Federal Government to save the jobs of 500, 000 Nigerians, reeled out various economic disadvantages of the proposed ban and appealed to government to reconsider the stand.

According to associations, this singular action could send over 500,000 breadwinners out of jobs and into the oversaturated Nigerian labour market.

The associations complained this new policy will further pile more problems on the Nigerian economy as it may lead to the eventual shut down of the industries producing these products.

Speaking during the protest, Emmanuel Idogien, Vice Chairman, NUFBTE, Lagos Council said: Most of our jobs are at stake. Many companies will fold up, especially those local industries that serve as raw materials to the producers.

They asserted that their employers have been law abiding and socially responsible citizens by paying their taxes which runs to several billions of naira thus contributing to economic growth. Moreover, advocacy initiatives have been embarked upon to advise the public of the dangers of over consumption and underaged drinking. They pleaded with NAFDAC and the FGto lift the outright ban on these products while the Agency implements regulation of the products as well as public enlightenment instead of throwing the baby with the bath.

With this ban, counterfeiters and moonshiners will have a field day which will give rise to various health problems they stated. (Vanguard)