INVESTIGATION: South-west Bakers boycott ongoing Warning Strike
The ongoing natiowide warning strike by the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria has been boycotted by members of the association in the South-west region.
The Association had issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to address various challenges facing the industry.
Addressing journalists in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, the Chairman of the association, Gabriel Adeniyi, stated that the decision to withdraw its services was taken following the myriads of challenges confronting the bakery and catering industry in Nigeria, adding that all efforts made by the association towards remedying them were bluffed by the government and its agencies.
“The Master Bakers and Caterers nationwide resolved to down tools and shut down all bakeries from July 20 to 26, 2022. I wish to inform the general public and indeed, the customers and consumers, that the National Secretariat of the association has directed all chapters to comply unfailingly.”
“Among the reasons that forced the unfortunate industrial action include shortage of raw materials, increasing cost of materials, over taxation and levies.
Findings by Roving Reporters Online however revealed that bread sellers are still having the commodity displayed in large quantities for sale in Osogbo, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Akure and other state capitals in the south west as well as every towns and communities.
Similarly, Bread is still being sold at motor parks across the region.
Some bread sellers told our correspondents that they were not aware of any strike. They however lamented increase in the price they get the commodity from their bakers.
Investigation also revealed that members of the association in the South-west decided not to join the ongoing warning strike, because the essence of the strike had been achieved in the region.
A prominent members of the association who wanted his name kept, told Roving Reporters Online that joining the strike was unnecessary as the South west zone of the association had already increased the price of bread to meet the current realities.
The source said: “We have a meeting in Ibadan next week and at the meeting we shall decide whether south-west bakers will join the ongoing warning strike or not.
“We have not joined the strike and you can confirm from Ekiti, Osun and other states in the South-west, you will see that non of us has joined the strike.
“Though, we are all affected by the current challenges, we had earlier effected price increase about one month ago and the purpose of going on strike is because they want to effect price increase nationwide but we don’t want to have such plan again, having increased our price, we don’t want to further put burden on nigerians from the region. So we don’t have any interest of increasing the price of bread for now.
“Any attempt to go on strike, it is as good as we are still planning to increase the amount of buying bread. That is why we have not gone on strike.
“But after Ibadan meeting, we shall take our position in the South-west. ”
