Monarch raises alarm over lack of amenities in Ekiti markets

The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe on Monday lamented the poor state of the environment in most of the markets in Ekiti State.

The monarch equally condemned the poor maintenance culture on the part of some market users.

Adejugbe particularly bemoaned the near total absence of amenities, especially toilets and water sources in the markets.

Our correspondent reports that the traditional ruler spoke when he received in audience, the Ekiti chapter executives of the newly formed National Union of Market Traders Employers of Nigeria, NUMTEN, in his palace.

According to him, there are currently over 25 markets in Ado-Ekiti alone, with none having appreciable state of sanitation arrangements.

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Represented by the Sasere of Ado-Ekiti, Chief Segun Famuagun, a lawyer, the monarch who commended the Federal Government for approving the establishment of the union, said everything humanly possible should be done to change the tide.

He urged the union to impress it on all levels of government, especially at local level, on the need to put every necessary sanitation indices in the markets and do regular follow-ups through regular maintenance, so as to guarantee clean environment and safeguard health of the people.

The Oba promised his support, and that of his chiefs, for the successful operations of the union, advising it to carry out its activities in line with the rule of law and respect for human dignity.

Earlier in his introductory address, Mr Morakinyo Akintoye, the Ekiti State Chairman of the union, had explained that NUMTEM was newly approved by the Federal Government to function under the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, with the principal mandate of bringing orderliness to the nation’s markets.

“The National Union of Market Traders Employers of Nigeria is a union, Registered under the Trade Union Act, (CAP T 14), and Affiliated to the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.

“The Union is non-political, non-tribal, non-religious, non-cultural, and non-governmental. It has only come to wipe out all tears flowing unjustly in the faces of all market traders in Nigeria.

“Our aim is to defend the integrity and independence of the market traders in Nigeria by promoting and advancing their welfares in all the markets in the country.

“Also the establishment is for maintenance and full operation of a system that will promote quick attention to our members’ needs,” he said.