Ekiti State government in collaboration with the leadership of the market men and women associations as well as the transport unions has agreed to set up a task force to check the rising cost of goods and services in the State.
The agreement was part of the resolutions reached at a meeting between the representatives of the State Government, led by the Commissioner for Trade, Investment, Industry and Co-operatives, Mrs Adeola Omotayo and the leadership of the associations in Ado Ekiti.
In her remarks, Mrs. Omotayo noted that the fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the currency largely contributed to the astronomical rise in prices which is causing severe hardship on the people.
According to her, the prevalent alarming cost of transportation has led to the seemingly uncontrollable increase in the prices of goods and services.
She stressed the need for all stakeholders including traders, artisans and transporters to be patriotic, more considerate and reduce prices and transport fares so as to make live bearable for the people.
Reiterating the commitment and passion of Governor Biodun Oyebanji for the general wellbeing of the people, the Commissioner assured that the State Government would continue to facilitate a conducive environment for entrepreneurs to thrive adding that the administration would however not encourage any form of shortchange of the people in any guise.
She said Government would intensify efforts at ensuring the protection of consumers against fraudulent practices by dishonest members of the public, adding that unwholesome activities of middlemen would be discouraged.
In his contribution, the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun called on the traders and transport operators in the State to join hands with Government at ensuring a better living for all residents.
Assuring that policies and programmes of the administration were being strategically conceived and implemented impact positively on the lives of the people, Olatunbosun however stressed that achieving optimal result must be seen as a collective responsibility.
He expressed confidence that Government’s intervention with the stakeholders’ meeting would relieve of high cost of living in the state.
Responding, the Iyaloja-General of Ekiti State, Chief (Mrs.) Abibat Ogunjobi who expressed appreciation to the State Government for organizing the meeting towards achieving substantial reversal in the rising cost of goods and services, said that the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe was also taking steps in the same direction.
She expressed hope that the ongoing efforts would assist in fashioning out control measures for the skyrocketing prices.
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Many stakeholders who spoke at forum voiced their displeasure with the activities of middlemen whom they claimed forcefully take over commodities and goods in bulk from producers at the markets only to resell the same products at exorbitant prices putting the resultant extra financial burden on the consumers.