Tobacco Control: Expert Advocates more Stakeholders involvement

By Temitope Musowo

In furtherance of the effort at controlling the use of Tobacco and its harmful effects  in our society , the Branch Head, Tobacco Control Unit from the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Dr. Mangai Toma Malau, has called on stakeholders to get more involved in the campaign to reduce tobacco use.

Dr. Malau who was  speaking in Lagos on Thursday at a training organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)  to educate members of Tax Justice Advocacy Network in the South West  region of Nigeria, emphasised the need for stakeholders to be more committed to the cause.

While peaking on the topic ; " Harmful Effects of Tobacco Use Anchoring Argument on the National Tobacco Control Act", Dr Malau gave revealing statistics about tobacco, which kills over 7 million people annually, 6 million direct use and 1 million smokeless, quoting from a 2012 survey, he added that 20 billion sticks are consumed in Nigeria annually.

He highlighted the harmful effects of Tobacco on our  Health, Environment and the Economy , noting that for every dollar tobacco companies make government spend 3 dollars to combat tobacco related ailments,therefore, for the global goal of cutting down the use of tobacco by 30 percent by the year 2025, all hands must be on deck to achieve this. 

A board member  of CISLAC, Barr. Adesina Oke in his address earlier stated that the essence of bringing together members of Tax Justice Advocacy Network was to galvanize regional support to achieve this advocacy for tobacco control 

"Tax and Price is one of the measures put in place by the Federal Government of Nigeria to control the use of Tobacco in the country, since you are already into tax justice advocacy, you need to understand issues around tobacco taxation so you know where to direct your advocacy "

CISLAC is a member of Tax Justice  Network in Africa ,you are members in Nigeria, as you advocate for tax payments and holding government accountable for the use of taxes paid ,you need to also join the effort to use tax and Price as  measures to control the use of Tobacco ", he said.

According to the Programme Manager, Democratic Governance, CISLAC,Mr Okeke Anya,who said while the use of Tobacco drops in elsewhere, it increases in the developing countries, meanwhile,the benefits of the sales goes to those society where the use is dropping. 

Mr Anya urged members of Tax Justice Advocacy Network to engage the Federal Ministry of Finance to give account of the revenue accruing to the ministry since the increment in the tax on Tobacco. 

At the end of the programme which was on Tobacco Tax Advocacy in Africa, supporting  effective Tobacco Control through Responsive Tax System in Nigeria,Mr Anya implored the members to continue with the advocacy in their own way to reduce the use of Tobacco.