The National Union of Market Traders Employers of Nigeria (NUMTEN) has said that it will collaborate with Government parastatals and other market stakeholders to address the high cost of food and other commodities in Nigeria.
James Ogu, the NUMTEN’s National President, revealed this during a courtesy visit to the Oyo state commissioner for trade, industry, investment and cooperatives, Demola Ojo, in Ibadan.
Ogu stated that many traders now hide behind the increase in the pump price of petroleum, the high dollar-to-naira exchange rate, and taxes and dues to arbitrarily increase the prices of food and other essential commodities in the market.
On his part, NUMTEN’s Chairman of the Oyo state chapter, Ola Makinde, said that the union would collaborate with relevant government agencies, departments and other critical market stakeholders to establish a centre in each zone, where issues could be reported and properly addressed.
According to him, part of the aims and objectives of the NUMTEN is to defend the integrity and independence of the market traders in Nigeria by putting an end to the activities of unregistered associations or groups exploiting traders in Nigeria.
He said, “We are working to ensure cooperation between the union and other market bodies, to maintain the highest standard, etiquette and discipline among market traders.”
On his part, the Oyo State Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Adebayo Aribatise, said that NLC, as the mother of all unions in Nigeria, recognised NUMTEN and was in solidarity with its activities across markets in Nigeria.
Aribatise said that NLCs in the state had the mandate of ensuring that all unions that want to operate in the state comply with the rules and regulations laid down by the state government to achieve its goals.
He said that the government was ready to partner with NUMTEN and other market bodies to address the high cost of food commodities and to improve the ease of doing business in the state.