Coalition of Non-governmental Organisations (NGO) under the aegis of National Action on Sugar Reduction (NASR) has charged the federal government to as a matter of urgency implement the sugar-sweetened beverages tax (SSB Tax) for the benefit of Nigerians and the economy at large.
The coalition gave the charge in a statement signed by its representative, Omei Bongos-Ikwue on Monday in Abuja.
Recall that last year December, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law an excise tax of N10 per litre on non-alcoholic, carbonated and sweetened beverages introduced in the 2021 Finance Act. However the sugar tax regulation which is expected to takeoff within six months have not been implemented till now.
The Coalition fears that further delay could jeopardise the implementation of the tax completely.
They also expressed concern that oppositions especially from beverages company are trying to frustrate the enforcement of excise tax on SSB on the ground that the move will promote job losses and inflict unnecessary burden on consumers.
According to Comrade Bernard Enyia, the General Secretary of the Nigerian Diabetes Association and co-chair of the coalition, “The backlash from the soda industry is slowing down the implementation of the tax. People think that the sugar tax is trying to impoverish them and add to inflation.”
As a person living with disabilities himself, the General Secretary explained that the tax is meant to ease the suffering of people living with diabetes. He further explained that enlightening people on the importance of the tax and how it will be used as a health policy tool toward the treatment of non-communicable diseases will help in changing their minds about supporting the tax.
The NASR also applauded the swift action of the Nigeria Customs Service for taking initiative towards enforcing the tax by reaching out to the beverage industries to begin the implementation of the SSB Tax.
Also, Executive Director of the Nigerian Heart Foundation, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye said, “In view of the gap in the implementation of the SSB tax passed in the 2021 Finance Act, I am calling on stakeholders, including civil society organizations, to work with government to enforce the implementation of the tax.”
Zacks Onwe of TalkHealth Nigeria however urged the coalition to activate community stakeholders to call out the government for refusing to implement the tax.
The NASR Coalition includes; Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Nigeria Cancer Society, Breast Without Spot, Lafiya Wealth Initiative, TalkHealth9ja, Nigeria Health Watch, Project PINK BLUE, Sustainable Development Initiative, African Youth Initiative on Population, Health and Development (AfrYPoD), Bundies Care Initiative and Nigerian Heart Foundation.
