..Lists Demands From Government
Yemisi Izuora
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, has directed its members not to shut operations but rather scale up production especially essential products in the medical line.
But it advised members to ensure they sensitize and educate their workers on compliance with National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines; and provide requisite facilities and supplies for the prevention of COVID-19 in line with extant guidelines of the NCDC.
“Given the fundamental role manufacturers will be playing at a time like this, they have been encouraged to sustain ongoing operations to avoid reduction or shut down of production activities; and scale up their production especially of essential commodities such pharmaceuticals, consumables, sanitary and hygiene products needed to curtail the spread of the virus (COVID-19).” the Association said.
However, MAN demanded that as manufacturers adhere to safety rules and keeping the economy running, it is expedient that Government provide safety nets for these group of its public to ensure seamless operations.
The Association thus requested that government should ensure reasonable access to industrial supplies and inputs. i.e. gas, electricity supply, fuel and other essential infrastructure needs and that financial support offered by Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN be extended to the supply of Forex to the manufacturing sector at pre-COVID-19 rates.
The MAN also demanded that the CBN should consider directing commercial banks to freeze interest charges in the event of a lock down and that in the case of an eventual lockdown, government should consider the introduction of fiscal measures such as waivers on import duties on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), and other essential products; Extend tax holiday to companies on corporate tax, and waive the Value Added Tax (VAT); and reduce the burden of personal income tax as a way of increasing the disposable income of an average Nigerian worker.
Government should in addition ensure that all regulatory agencies such as Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Standards Organizations of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration & Control (NAFDAC) treat all requests from Manufacturers expeditiously and with the required sensitivity to the prevailing situation as well as prevail on all relevant Agencies to strictly comply with the provisions of Executive Orders 001, 003 and 005;
In addition it asked government to ensure its agencies do not act contrary to its directive of permitting essential manufacturing sectors to operate and should also take into consideration the inclusion of the logistics and distribution arm of manufacturing to make possible delivery of manufactured items to the final consumers.
The Association further advised safety in all lines of operation and that manufacturers should make it a point of duty to assure their employees, vendors, customers and all relevant stakeholders of best health practices.
“For emphasis, we would enjoin the general public to take seriously the protective measure of regular hand washing with soap and water or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, practice of good personal hygiene; maintenance of social distancing and sufficiently stay abreast of additional directives from the National Centre for Disease Control and World Health Organization.” it concluded.