Breadmakers protest in Lagos over multiple taxation
Bread makers in Lagos under the aegis of the Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN), yesterday made good their threat to stage a massive demonstration over alleged extortion by agents of the state government. The Bread makers in their large number stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly at Alausa Ikeja to vent their grievances, […]
PBAN
Bread makers in Lagos under the aegis of the Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN), yesterday made good their threat to stage a massive demonstration over alleged extortion by agents of the state government.
The Bread makers in their large number stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly at Alausa Ikeja to vent their grievances, saying no fewer than 13 state agencies were under their neck, claiming they are authorized by law to monitor/oversee premium bakeries.
The body comprising owners, Managing Directors and Partners of premium bakeries in Nigeria said the extortion of their members had continued for too long and made several attempts to meet Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu without success.
From Ikeja City Mall, members of the association marched to the state House of Assembly bearing different inscriptions, such as “Multiple taxation in Lagos is killing premium bakers;” “Stop multiple oversight/monitoring of our bakeries by numerous state ministries, agencies and parastatals,” “Premium Breadmakers are reeling under the yoke of multi-agencies levies, rates and taxes,” among others.
President of the association, Emmanuel Onuorah who delivered a letter to the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, appealed to him to use his good office to save their businesses from collapse.
The bread-makers also argued that most of the monitoring done by the state agencies are equally carried out by National Agency for Food & Drug Administration (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity etc.
It also urged the Speaker to prevail on the state government to make Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) World Bank grant and loans available to Premium Bread makers that applied for it as net employers of labour in Lagos State.