Sensitise workers on compliance with NCDC guidelines, MAN

Success Damian:
 

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the umbrella body for all the manufacturers in the country, has advised its members to ensure they properly sensitise their workers on the necessity to comply with National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines.

According to a press statement from President of the association, Engr. Mansur Ahmed, MAN also stated that members should provide requisite facilities and supplies for the prevention of COVID-19 in line with extant guidelines of the NCDC.

It read in part, “In a bid to address the potential impact of the virus on the Nigerian economy, MAN has 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.”

The group stated that given the critical and fundamental role of manufacturers, they have been encouraged to sustain ongoing operations to avoid reduction or shutdown of production activities; and should indeed scale up production especially of essential commodities such pharmaceuticals, consumables, sanitary and hygiene products needed to curtail the spread of the virus (COVID-19).

While further advising members to take safety measures seriously, MAN called on government to provide safety nets for its public to ensure seamless operations, “As manufacturers adhere to safety rules and keeping the economy running, it is expedient that Government provide safety nets for this group of its public to ensure seamless operations.”

MAN, therefore, suggested that Government should ensure reasonable access to industrial supplies and inputs, i.e. gas, electricity supply, fuel and other essential infrastructure needs; The financial support offered by CBN be extended to the supply of Forex to the manufacturing sector at pre-COVID-19 rates;

The CBN should consider directing commercial banks to freeze interest charges in the event of a lockdown; 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.

It further requested Extending 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.

The group said that government should 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) should treat all requests from Manufacturers expeditiously and with the required sensitivity to the prevailing situation; adding that Government should prevail on all relevant Agencies to strictly comply with the provisions of Executive Orders 001, 003 and 005;

Also “Government should ensure its agencies do not act contrary to its directive of permitting essential manufacturing sectors to operate; it 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.”

Ultimately, the Association advises safety in all lines of operation.

“Therefore, manufacturers have been urged to 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.”