Recently, members of the Bakers’ Association of Nigeria announced their intention to withdraw their service from the public if the Federal Government failed to address urgently the problem of baking materials particularly bread made from wheat, yeast, sugar, baking powder and others whose prices are escalating daily and are unbearable to them. They even went to the extent of giving Federal Government an ultimatum of some days within which to take action.
In the first place, it must be realized that it is the inalienable right of the association to protest any act inimical to their interests especially the poor financial returns from the business. In the wake of the crisis, a privately-owned radio station in Ibadan on Wednesday evening 4 April this year organised an interview over the matter whereupon some top notchers of the Association were invited to take part. During the interview, leaders of the association in Ibadan stated that their bone of contention was strictly based on astronomical rise in the cost of aforementioned materials for producing bread in particular which they said was unacceptable to them going by the high price. Another salient point which they mentioned was concentrating importation or procurement of these materials in the hands of one person thus giving the impression monopoly of trade which would not augur well to them. Some persons who were given the opportunity to talk on the issue by telephoning condemned the action of the government concerning the matter and urged those in authority to urgently address the problem. As we all know, bread like puff-puff, sausage rolls, chinchin, mince pies and others have become favourite of people of this country which are taken as food or refreshment either at home or in offices. The bakers also maintained that there is no way by which they can make reduction in sizes of bread or put extra cost on them with poor economic situation in the country today that would encourage patronage or bring them profit.
Doing this, they added will be like tying a mill-stone around their necks. I associate with the argument put forward by the bakers and their demand for a drastic reduction in cost of production but in my humble opinion, giving Federal Government an ultimatum or withdrawal of service from the public though the association may consider ideal, yet if we take a look at it from another angle, such a measure is not the proximate thing to take. It is an ill-wind as far as I am concerned that blows no good since there are alternative routes to drive home their demands.
The first, the association can write a letter to the Honorable President urging him to temper justice with mercy by government to rescind its decision on the issue. Copies of such a letter can be made available to the governors and journalists at an organized press conference in their respective States. The second, they can organise having a dialogue with those in authority to resolve the issue amicably and reach a compromise. The third, the Baker’s Association of Nigeria can organise a peaceful protest march across the country carrying placards making passionate pleas to the government on the issue after obtaining clearance from the police authority.
Opinion leaders in the country can be contacted or other relevant bodies to make humble plea with the Federal Government on their behalf to reconsider their stand on the matter and other legitimate means of resolving such a matter.
Ola-Olaniyi Bamgbola,
Ibadan
