NUFBTE urges Nigerian House of Representatives to reject CETA Bill

The National Union of Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) has called on Nigeria’s House of Representatives to reject the Customs, Excise Tariffs, Etc. (Consolidation) Amendment Bill, 2025 (CETA Bill). In an open letter to Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, the union warned that the legislation could cause irreversible damage to the manufacturing sector and lead to widespread job losses.

The proposed bill seeks to replace the current fixed tax of ₦10 per litre on soft drinks with a percentage-based levy on the retail price. NUFBTE President Garba Dankama argued that the manufacturing industry is already struggling with high borrowing costs, rising energy and logistics expenses, foreign exchange constraints, and diminished consumer purchasing power.

The union emphasized that the non-alcoholic drinks (NAD) sector is vital to the economy, supporting jobs in agriculture, haulage, distribution, and retail. They warned that an additional tax burden could trigger factory closures and a collapse of the value chain. Dankama also questioned the public health justifications for the tax, noting that soft drinks represent a small portion of total sugar consumption in the country.