The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) Abia state chapter says it will fully mobilise its members to participate in the association's withdrawal of service slated for July 20.
Mr Chris Uba, Chairman of the association in the state disclosed in an interview, noting that all members were affected by the present difficulties being experienced due to the high cost of baking materials.
The Chairman said that the association has also intimated the bread sellers association in the state over the development because what affects AMBCN, affects them.
"They are not happy about this but there is nothing we can do due to incessant increment in the prices of bakery materials.
"In the past, increment in prices of bakery products took years to be affected but not so now that this situation has forced it to be incessant.
" A bag of flour which used to sell for N5,000 is now N28,000 and keeps increasing as the week goes by.
"A bag of Sugar which used to be N5,000 now sells for N30,000 and this increment also affects groundnut oil among other bakery materials".
He urged the Federal government to take proactive steps to check the situation due to the role the association plays in family nutrition and employment generation.
"The government should adust the tariff on wheat importation to suit flour millers as bread should not be seen as a common commodity.
"Bread plays a vital role in family nutrition because before one finishes cooking food for the household, the person will give the children bread and tea for breakfast,"
Ubah also noted that bakers are among the highest employers of labour in the country as an average bakery employs more than 20 people.
"The government should realise that we are helping them to check unemployment and when we are out of business, the youths we employ would be on the streets and further compound the security challenges being experienced.
Mr Oliver Nwagbaloso, the Secretary of the association, said that most bakeries were folding because of the teething challenges being faced as a result of the high cost of materials.
Nwagbaloso said that the situation had become unbearable and was seriously affecting the welfare of bakery workers.
"We urge our customers to understand our plight which is the real situation that the government ought to address".
It will be recalled that the withdrawal of service was earlier scheduled for July 13 but was shifted to July 20 to accommodate the premium bakers association which indicated interest to be a part of it.
