Intensify enforcement on ban on illegal collections at markets – lawmaker tells government

Fri, Apr 5, 2019 | By publisher


Politics

OKECHUKWU Umeh, a lawmaker representing Aguata 1 Constituency in the Anambra House of Assembly, has described daily collections from traders at markets as illegal.

Umeh made this known in an interview in his residence at Uga, Aguata Local Government Area while speaking on dividends of democracy in the state.

“In spite of public announcement that people should desist from collecting money and issuing receipts to traders at markets, some people have to continue to engage in the illegal act.

“The illegal collection is done in all markets within the state.’’

Meanwhile, the funds collected do not go into government coffers but into the private pockets of the perpetrators.

Governor Willie Obiano ordered a stop to it because he knows that the traders being extorted are low income earners, who toil to be able to feed their families.

He commended government’s sensitivity to the plights of the people of Anambra but regretted that some unscrupulous elements had continued the extortion.

He added: “There are yet some people, who force traders to pay. Government should intensify efforts at fishing out the perpetrators.

“Government should enforce it and ensure that defaulters are decisively dealt with so as to bring a stop to the illegal act.’’

Umeh commended government for its many projects in his constituency, Aguata 1 constituency.

The outgoing lawmaker noted among other projects the government’s prompt intervention in the gully erosion at Umuoru village.

The gully erosion which cut across Umuoru village, affected Umudieleke kindred, where one part of the Umunna could only be accessed through Akaokwa in IMO state.

Meanwhile, reports coming from traders at Ekwulobia Motor Park, said the managers of the park had stopped collecting daily fee of N50 from them but increased their monthly fees.

Joy Ezeilo, a plantain seller at the market, said that she used to pay N50 daily and N500 monthly but now she pays N1, 000 monthly

She said that apart from the little adjustments, that N100 levy is still collected every Friday from her for sanitation purposes.

Sylvia Ezeoke, a foodstuff dealer who uses double portions (two tables) said that, they used to collect N50 every day and N1, 000 every month.

A sachet water vendor, Blessing Mmadu said she was not paying on daily basis but would be forced to pay N100 only on sanitation days.

– Apr. 5, 2019 @ 17:15 GMT |

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