‘No work for us’ – Labour unions protest at NAFDAC Lagos office
Protest Against NAFDAC Enters Seventh Day
LAGOS — The dispute between labor unions and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) entered its seventh day on Thursday, with members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) staging a demonstration at NAFDAC’s Isolo office.
Starting around 7 a.m., protesters blocked access to the office, chanting “No work for us, no work for you,” effectively preventing staff from entering for nearly two hours. Operations at the facility were temporarily halted until officers from the Nigeria Police Force’s Odi-Olowo Division intervened, allowing access by approximately 11 a.m. There were no reports of violence during the protest, which remained peaceful.
Union leaders expressed their intent to continue the demonstration until their grievances are fully addressed, which include the reopening of sealed factories and the reversal of staff dismissals. “This is Day 7, and we are not backing down. We will continue until our concerns are acknowledged,” said Jeffery Igein, National Secretary of FOBTOB, reflecting the sentiments of the crowd.
The industrial action follows NAFDAC’s enforcement of a ban on sachet alcohol and 10cl PET bottled products that has led to the closure of numerous local factories, depots, and warehouses nationwide. TUC Secretary Comrade Anthony Oyaga criticized the enforcement actions under Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye, describing them as unfair and economically damaging. “Indigenous manufacturing facilities are being shut down indiscriminately. Factories, depots, and warehouses, including those storing lawful products, are being sealed. This is not regulation; it is deliberate economic strangulation,” Oyaga stated.
The unions highlighted the far-reaching consequences of the shutdowns, warning that job losses are creating financial strain on families and affecting various sectors, including transport, raw material supply, distribution, retail, and logistics. “An economy cannot thrive when industries are closed instead of being properly regulated,” Oyaga added, cautioning that prolonged closures could worsen youth poverty and increase social issues.
FOBTOB is calling for urgent intervention from President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, state governors, traditional leaders, religious authorities, and civil society organizations. “We are not criminals. We are workers, producers, parents, and taxpayers. We are Nigerians,” the union stated in a release.
The unions are demanding the immediate reopening of affected factories, depots, and warehouses, emphasizing the need for structured dialogue and regulatory measures instead of punitive actions.
