MAN, NECA Say Rate Hike Will Negatively Affect Operations

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association have said the recent increase of the Monetary Policy Rate by the Central Bank of Nigeria will negatively impact its operations in many ways.

According to a statement on Thursday, MAN said the MPR hike would also increase the cost of borrowing which would further discourage investments in the sector.

It also noted that this would lead to a high cost of production which will lead to higher commodity prices and inventory of unsold manufactured products.

“It is evident that the continuous and consistent increase in MPR is not yielding the desired growth in the economy.

"The Nigerian economy remains fragile and bedeviled with numerous challenges that inhibit growth.

“Therefore, the monetary authority needs to pay closer attention to rethink the policy mix, bearing in mind the parlous state of the economy, especially the effect of a high MPR on the manufacturing sector and the economy.

“The increase in MPR from 18 per cent to 18.5 per cent will certainly lead to an increase in lending rates and worsen the uncompetitiveness of the manufacturing sector.

"The Association has been clamoring for single-digit lending rates to allow manufacturers access needed funds to boost the performance of the sector.

"This increase, like the previous ones, is evidence that the CBN is either unperturbed about the plight of the productive sector or is unable to fathom out a more creative policy mix that would reflate the sector", the statement reads in part.

Also, NECA urged the government especially, the monetary policy authority, to tackle inflation by addressing the issue of imported inflation.