Manufacturers suggest continuation of polices, consumer rights as panacea to industrial growth

Stakeholders in the manufacturing sector suggested on Wednesday that the continuation of good polices of the outgoing administration, enforcement of consumer rights and local content rules would revive the manufacturing sector.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the issues of monopoly, fake products, low infrastructure and poor power supply needed not to be drummed before the incoming government.

They said that these issues should be tackled urgently if the over 89 per cent drop in employment generation must be reversed.

NAN reports that the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in its annual report said that employment generation dropped by over 89 per cent in 2014.

According to the report, MAN generated 53,340 jobs in the last half of 2013, while it dropped to 5,521in the first six months of 2014.

The report said that the most hit in the sector was the textile, apparel and footwear, which generated 5,757 jobs during the same period in 2013 and had 276 in 2014.

The President of MAN, Mr Frank Jacobs and the Director-General, Mr Remi Ogunmefun, told NAN that the outgoing administration had initiated a lot of programmes, which the incoming should look into.

Jacobs said: “For instance, the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) which is the bedrock of a new industrial revolution should be fully implemented.

“The plan is segmented. It involves standards and quality assurance, infrastructural development, which are of utmost importance to the sector.

“In the plan, there is also the Export Expansion Grant.

“This plan if implemented will encourage manufacturing as most unemployed will go into manufacturing and agriculture.”

Jacobs urged the incoming administration to priotise the policies to boost employment generation in the sector.

He said the rate of unemployment was increasing by the day and manufacturers who should be key stakeholders were handicapped due to high running costs.

He said the greatest desire of the sector would be that the new administration builds on the policies and programmes, especially as regards job creation.

“It will be of immense benefit to all, because no nation survives solely on importation,” he added.

Ogunmefun also commended the outgoing administration for the establishment of a job creation committee, which MAN is a member.

He, however, urged the new government to greatly consider agriculture and manufacturing as a major avenues to boost employment.

He said that unemployment was one of the major challenges facing the productive population and it needed urgent attention.

Mr Muhammed Wahab, President, Chartered Institute of Printers and Publishers of Nigeria, (CIPPON), told NAN that the publishing sub-sector had been taken over by foreigners.

Wahab said that major printing contracts, especially from the government, go to foreign publishers at the expense local printers.

He said that members of CIPPON were unable to employ more as there was no means for their remunerations.

He urged the incoming government to think of Nigerians in any contract because most workers in the foreign firms were always engaged as casuals.

Also speaking to NAN, Mr Tam Tamunokonbia, Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Consumer Protection Council, call for competitiveness among manufacturers and give consumer rights a voice.

“There is the need to help manufacturers and service providers improve on their products and services to consumers.

“If consumers are given a voice, it will help to reduce the influx of fake products within the country,” Tamunokonbia said. (NAN)