Prices of food items are set to crash as Traders’ Association has disbanded powerful market unions which were believed to be responsible for the high cost of commodities in Akwa Ibom State.
This followed steps taken by the Akwa Ibom State Market Monitoring Team led by Idorenyin Raphael, an aide to Governor Umo Eno during a tour of Urua Akpan Andem and Urua Mbakara in Uyo and other markets in Ikot Ekpene, respectively.
Speaking at Urua Akpan Andem, Idorenyin Raphael, who is the senior aide to Governor Eno on Market Matters maintained that no trader should be forced to belong to any market union, affirming that such an act is punishable by law.
“The leadership of Akwa Ibom State Traders had agreed that no one should be forced to be part of any union.
“This is because Umo Eno has seen that things are difficult already for anyone to be forced to join any group.
“One month ago, a law was passed by the leadership of Akwa Ibom State Traders that unions should not force people to be part of them but one could join voluntarily.
“We came to confirm if such acts are still being carried out here. No one should be bullied, and if the bully is caught, such a person will be treated like a criminal”, he said.
He also noted that everyone has the right to sell products in the market any day they choose to without restrictions, adding that sharing of days for traders to sell in the market should be discontinued.
“There are no more regulated market days. Anyone has the right to bring anything to the market to sell. Bring your wares and come to the market any day you like.
“Nobody should stop you from selling any day you want to. Sellers are permitted to report such persons to the the market president or the nearest police station.
“Governor Umo Eno does not want people to pass through added stress in this trying times. So I urge everyone to abide by the rules of Akwa Ibom Market Association”, he hinted.
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