The Ekiti State government, in collaboration with the leadership of the market men and women associations as well as the transport unions, has agreed to set up a task force to checkmate the rising cost of goods and services in the state.
The agreement was part of the resolutions reached at a meeting between the representatives of the state government, led by the Commissioner for Trade, Investment, Industry, and Co-operatives, Mrs. Adeola Omotayo, and the leadership of the associations in Ado Ekiti.
Omotayo noted that the fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the currency largely contributed to the astronomical rise in prices, which is causing severe hardship for the people.
She stressed the need for all stakeholders, including traders, artisans, and transporters, to be patriotic, more considerate, and reduce prices and transport fares so as to make life bearable for the people.
Reiterating the commitment and passion of Governor Biodun Oyebanji for the general well-being of the people, the Commissioner assured that the state government would continue to facilitate a conducive environment for entrepreneurs to thrive, adding that the administration would however not encourage any form of shortchange of the people in any guise.
She said, ” We are working to ensure that we have a reduction in the cost of food items. The governor is so passionate about the condition of things in the market and has directed us to interface with the stakeholders.
” This engagement with market women and men will be a continuous exercise towards having a stabilised price system in the interest of the citizens.
” We know things are difficult due to the subsidy removal, but we want our market men and women to show more understanding and compassion with the citizens.”
Speaking, the Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, called on the traders and transport operators in the state to join hands with the government to ensure a better standard of living for all residents.
Assuring that policies and programmes of the administration were being strategically conceived and implemented across major sectors to impact positively on the lives of the people, Olatunbosun, however, stressed that achieving optimal results must be seen as a collective responsibility.
” No matter the situation, we should not make our lives difficult for ourselves. There should be shared prosperity
” The government of Biodun Oyebanji has introduced so many measures across education, health, agriculture, and other critical sectors to make things better for the people.
” The administration is doing enough to ameliorate the sufferings of the people, and we want to see our traders across major markets demonstrating this love by not unnecessarily increasing the price of commodities,” he said.
Responding, the Iyaloja-General of Ekiti State, Chief Abibbat Ogunjobi, who expressed appreciation to the State Government for organising the meeting towards achieving substantial reversal in the rising cost of goods and services, said that the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, was also taking steps in the same direction.
Many stakeholders who spoke at the forum voiced their displeasure with the activities of middlemen, whom they claimed forcefully take over commodities and goods in bulk from producers at the markets only to resell the same products at exorbitant prices, putting the resultant extra financial burden on the consumers.
