Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced the immediate suspension of all market unions and associations across the state in a bold move aimed at curbing the soaring prices of foodstuffs.
The decision, disclosed in a statement issued in Benin City by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, is part of a broader strategy to tackle the exploitative practices of these unions and provide relief to low-income residents.
Okpebholo mentioned that reports revealed that market union leaders were engaging in practices that significantly disrupted the state’s food supply chain.
These activities include barring farmers from selling their produce directly to consumers and enforcing arbitrary price controls on staple foods, which has led to an unprecedented surge in food prices.
“Their actions have ultimately led to an astronomical rise in the prices of staple food in the state, thereby making life unbearable for the common Edo man,” the governor emphasized.
He further condemned the unions’ activities as extortionist, highlighting their detrimental impact on the state’s economy and the livelihoods of its citizens.
“While Edo State Government appreciates the role of market traders and their contribution to the economy of our dear state, it will not, however, serve as justification to allow a few individuals, under the guise of market unions’ executives and for their selfish reasons, to continue to hold the entire state to ransom through their selfish and extortionist activities,” the statement read.
To enforce the suspension, Governor Okpebholo directed security agencies, including the police, to apprehend any defiant union leaders.
He underscored that the state government will not tolerate any attempts to flout this directive.
This decisive action follows calls from stakeholders, including the Coalition of Registered Political Parties, urging the government to address the root causes of high food prices in the state.
CRPP’s state chairman, Samson Isibor, had previously highlighted the negative impact of market unions on commodity prices.
“The cost of living is also high in Edo State due to the activities of market unions, which dictate to traders the prices of foodstuffs. I encourage Governor Okpebholo to go after them to bring down the cost of commodities,” Isibor stated.
He also pointed out the insecurity faced by farmers as a contributing factor to the rising food costs, noting that the fear of attacks by herdsmen and other criminal elements has kept many farmers away from their fields.
“The inability of farmers to go to the farm, for fear of being attacked by herdsmen and other criminal elements, has resulted in the high cost of food items,” he added.
Okpebholo’s intervention is widely seen as a crucial step to restore fairness in the state’s markets, reduce the cost of living, and protect the livelihoods of both farmers and consumers in Edo State.
