Bread Bakers Begin Strike …Over Price Hike Of Raw Materials

Members of the Association of Master Bakers of Nigeria, say they have commenced a one-week warning strike to protest the high cost of raw materials used in producing bread.

The Rivers State chairman of the association, Mr Kolawole Adelegan who led other members on a peaceful protest, yesterday, said they were at the Government House gate in response to the directive of their national body to intimate the state government of the plight of the association.

Mr Adelegan said their grievances stem from the high cost of raw materials such as flour as the main stake in producing bread and the supportive materials sugar that have gone beyond the reach of an average baker, adding that the situation would ultimately increase the price of bread.

The chairman explained that the association was concerned about the effect of price increase on bread which would further impoverish the common man on the street and urged the government to urgently address the issue before the end of the one week warning strike or face increase in prices of bread on resumption from the strike.

According to him, “ flour which was sold at N5,100 last year has risen to N6,400 while sugar has increased from N8,00 to N12, 000 which puts our members in a difficult situation in meeting up the cost of producing bread”.

Mr Adelegan remarked that if government ignores their concern, the nation would witness 100 per cent new price regime for bread which he noted the common people cannot afford.

‘When the flour millers increased the price, we were not even aware, therefore, as at now, we have withdrawn our services with effect from today for the next one week, we want government to positively look into the matter, so that  we shall not resume after the strike and increase prices of bread”, the chairman said.

The association thanked the state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for providing a conducive environment for them to operate and congratulated him on his re-election.

Responding on behalf of the Rivers State Governor, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Chinda, said the state government would work in synergy with the bakers association to do what was necessary to address the problem that has the propensity to affect the generality of the society.

Mr Chinda assured them that the present administration in the state was a listening government and that the message in their protest would affect the commoners, noting that their concern about making a staple food like bread cheap requires proper attention.

He promised to deliver their message to the governor and thanked them for the peaceful conduct in the handling of their activities.