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The Association of Table Waters Producers (ATWAP), Umuahia zone, has described HAB 31: a Bill for a Law to Establish Abia State Polluter Pays and Extended Producer Responsibility for the Management of Non-biodegradable Packaging Materials and for other matters connected therewith as anti-people.
The Association also argued that the Bill is anti -Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, emphasizing that the government should laud them for being partners in progress vis-à-vis their contributions in the society through the provision of employment opportunities.
Speaking during a monitored programme on Spin FM, Umuahia on Monday, Peter Nwakanma, Chairman Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) Umuahia Zone, said through this bill, the Abia State government intends to strangulate SMEs in the State by coming with a bill that will place another tax burden on businesses that are struggling to survive.
Nwakanma noted that as owners of these businesses, they were already contributing to the Gross Domestic Product GDP of the State as well as providing employment opportunities for the youths, thereby pulling families out of poverty.
He decried that this onerous responsibility should be complemented by the government through the granting of commensurate incentive to make up for their roles in the development of the State, but frowned that instead, the government wants to close down their businesses.
Nwakanma, who pointed out that water is an essential commodity and a universal solvent through which substances dissolve, argued strongly that government cannot hold them accountable for failing to provide enough buckets and waste bins to guarantee proper waste disposal. He also stated that on their products, it is explicitly written that consumers should discard or dispose appropriately.
He said imposition of a certain fee on each sachet water picked on the road, is an aberration, stressing that if there are waste management buckets, consumers would not dispose or litter the streets of Abia State, calling on the state government and the House of Assembly to fine-tune the bill, adding that they are against any bill that is anti-people as they also work for the welfare of the masses.
On his part, Barr. Anthony Nnamaka, Secretary ATWAP, reiterated that the Association is not against any government policy that takes congizance of the interest of Abians, advising the Abia State House of Assembly to fine-tune the bill to reflect proper waste management.
He contended that it is not their business on how Abians dispose refuse as there are bodies in the State saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that there is proper waste management, saying coming up with additional tax burden is an aberration.
Refuting the position of ATWAP, Hon. Kalu Mba-Nwoko, member representing Ohafia South State Constituency and sponsor of the bill, said it was unfortunate that the Association of Table Waters Producers (ATWAP), Umuahia Zone, is misinterpreting the bill, highlighting that the bill is not anti-people but sues to ensure proper waste management from manufacturers.
The Lawmaker, who stated that the Association of Table Waters Producers (ATWAP), Umuahia Zone, are not the only ones using non-degradeble materials, added that what the bill also seems to achieve, is to suggest other ways these manufacturing companies using this materials can repackage their products to avoid seeing it litter the streets of Abia State as well as carry out their Corporate Social Responsibility.
He disagreed with those opposing the bill, maintaining that the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti since his emergence as the Governor of the State, has encouraged Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, insisting that it is not possible for the Governor to allow laws that will strangulate SMEs in the State.
Hon. Mba-Nwoko appealed to all to shun exchanging banters over the bill, emphasizing that members of the Association are free to pencil down their misgivings about the bill and come forward with those inputs during the next public hearing.
He re-assured Abians that the Abia State House of Assembly will look at the bill critically and consult appropriately before passing same into law.
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