BY OLUFISOYE ADENITAN
Last week, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu directed that trade unions and associations membership should be voluntary to reduce inflated prices of good and services.
Our Correspondent sought the views of some market women and their customers on the gains of this development.
Recently, most Nigerians only hustle to feed their families due to high increase in prices of commodities
Similarly ,the factors identified for high increase in prices is the price inflation by unions and trade organisation
In Akure, ondo state, trade unions and association mandated every seller including petty traders like nylon ,locust beans ,pop corn,maize ,and vegetables to compulsorily belong to an association and anyone not willing to join got their goods destroyed .
It is alleged that most of this union leaders sell nothing but only feed fat on proceeds by its members .
Few months ago ,the battles started when a fish seller was hiding in an uncompleted building at a cold room in Akure from union taskforce but the building allegedly collapsed on her resulting in her death.
There are uncountable accusations against the taskforce of this trade unions at Arakale, oja oba, cashold and other markets in Akure .
Reacting to this development by government, two pepper sellers ,Mrs Christina oyegbate and Mrs Fatima Adu said there still seems to be no difference as prices keep going up on daily basis ..
Also a meat seller ,kamarudeen Alago said the decision by the government has given them the courage to question any union authority .
A middle aged woman ,Mrs grace Akinuli and Mr Joseph Adedutire said the situation at hand was presently unbearable due to inflation being experience on goods and services
They said they only work to feed as other bills incurred by the family could not be soughted .
Earlier on Wednesday this week ,the special Adviser to the Governor on union matters and special duties ,Mr Dare Aragbaye held a meeting with leaders of unions on arbitrary price increase on goods and services
He maintained that government’s stand remained that no union or association should fix price for its members and membership should be voluntary without assault.
A call was put across to the president of iyalojas and iyalajes in ondo state princess Nike Aroloye Akingboye and babalaje general in ondo state ,chief Adebayo stephen Adebowale but they declined comment.