A total of 4.5 million Nigerians risked losing their jobs should the 450,000 member Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMCON) carries out its threat of laying off workers as a result of unfavourable business climate in the country.

The National Publicity Secretary of the association, Jude Okafor said recently in Asaba that with about 450, 000 bakers and caterers in the country, the threat was not hollow as the members have resolved to lay off a minimum of 10’workers per bakery unless the government immediately meet their demands.

Citing the astronomical increase in the cost of flour, sugar, yeast and other materials, Okafor said that the members have no choice but to lay off workers as it is the only way they can stay in business.

The scribe explained that bag of flour which before now costs N5, 800 has shot up to N12, 000 while sugar is now N22, 000 instead of the erstwhile price of N7, 000 and yeast presently goes for N18, 000 as against N5, 500 and vegetable oil is now N 18, 000 as against N5,000.

He said that persistent appeals to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to intervene met a brickwall, noting that in frustration the association recently ordered its members to withdraw services with the hope that the government will intervene.

Okafor said: “The 450, 000 strong members have resolved to lay off workers at the rate of ten staff per bakery for some small bakeries, thirty staff for medium scale bakeries and fifty workers per bakery for large scale bakeries.