By Ehichioya Steve Odion
The Current scarcity and hike in prices of commodities in markets in the Benin metropolis has been attributed to the activities of unions in the various markets in the state.
The President , Traders Welfare Union of Nigeria, Comrade Lucky Orukpe, stated this while addressing journalists at the premises of the Edo Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists during a peaceful protest in Benin City.
The protesters who carried various placards with different inscriptions as,- "Edo People Say No To Evil Unions In Our Market", Edo State Government Ban Evil Union, Evil Unions In Edo Market Are Responsible For Hike In Food Stuff ", We appeal to Edo State Government To Build Ekiosa Market.,"
Comrade Orukpe said, the current hardship being faced by the people as a result of scarcity and increase in prices of commodities in the various markets in the state was due to the unwholesome practices of the different unions in those markets.
According to him, "the activities of Unions in the markets are causing more harm than good".
"The nefarious acts of compelling traders to join their different unions with exorbitant sums of money and different items before selling their farm produce and stuffs and for those who bow to their evil demands of the unions are restricted on the size of produce to sell .Also days of coming to ply their trade in the market e.g. once in a week and thereby creating artificial scarcity of such farm produce and in the process causing inflation and poverty for such traders. Except for the executives of the union who can sell every day.
He told Journalists that those traders and market women who refused to join such unions were dealt with by the illegal union leaders.
" Anyone who refuses to join the union, they conspire against such traders , arrest the them and in most cases their goods are seized by so called illegal leaders" adding that, there are cases where individuals are willing to join the union, so they can do their businesses, but that they are told that the space for membership was closed and that the trader should go elsewhere to trade thereby frustrating such trader who has already paid the required fees by the Local Government Council Revenue officers.
Comrade Lucky Orukpe therefore appeals to the Edo state government, the Edo state House Of Assembly and the relevant authorities concerned to intervene and save the situation with a view to curbing the menace of such needless unions.
In the same vein, they appeal to the Edo state House Of Assembly to intervene in the situation of the displaced traders of Ekiosa market who have lost their means of livelihood.
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