Soludo dissolves caretaker committees of 30 markets, constitutes new ones to replace two with flawed leadership elections

The Anambra State Government has announced the dissolution of 30  caretaker committees of market associations in the state and constituted new ones  to replace two other market leaderships with flawed elections.  

A statement on Friday  by  the state’s  Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Obinna Ngonadi, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, said  the dissolution is part of  Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s effort to strengthen the markets’ leaderships to involve progressive governance, so that the unions can become effective partners in the modernization of the markets.

Consequently, according to the commissioner,  with these interim measures, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the office of the commissioner has rolled  new polices for immediate implementation.

The statement  states as follows: “ In line with Mr Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision and directives, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has rolled out polices to reform and modernize markets and make shopping pleasurable, so that Anambra State will regain its place as the number one place in trade and commerce.

“The government intends to strengthen the markets’ leaderships to involve progressive governance, so that the unions can become effective partners in the modernization of the markets. Consequently, with these interim measures, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Anambra State, through the office of the commissioner has rolled out the following polices for immediate implementation.

“ The immediate dissolution of caretaker committees in some markets across Anambra State.  The list of the markets affected are as follows:

1 ONITSHA MAIN MARKET

2  G.B.O MARKET

3 BRIDGE HEAD MARKET (OGBO OGWU)

4 OCHANJA CENTRAL MARKET

5 NWUGO MARKET (BEER MARKET)

6 PROGRESS MARKET

7 MILLENUIM MARKET

8 OCHANJA AREA MARKET

9 SOKOTO ROAD MAIN MARKET, ONITSHA

10 NASPA NNEWI

11 ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS DEALERS MARKET NNEWI

12 PLANT PARTS MARKET NNEWI

13 AGBA EDO UNITED (F-LINE MARKET, NNEWI)

14 OFUOBI TRADERS ASSOCIATION, NNEWI

15 OGBOFERE MARKET

16 OGBARU PLASTIC MARKET

17 SHOE MANUFACTURING MARKET, OGBARU

18 IRON DEALERS MARKET, ONITSHA

19 ABADA INTERNATIONAL MARKET

20 OKORO ICHIDA MARKET

21 GENERAL MOTORS SPARE PARTS OKPOKO, OGBARU

22 BICYCLE SPARE PARTS, OGBUNIKE

23 NKPOR MAIN MARKET

24 GRAIN SEED MARKET OBOSI

25 SYNTHETIC FABRICS OGIDI

26 BUILDING MATERIALS MARKET, OGIDI

27 STOCKFISH INTERNATIONAL, OBOSI

28 NEW MOTOR SPARE PARTS DEALERS ASSOCIATION, OBOSI

29 ODERA MARKET

30 OYE UGA MARKET

“ The reconstitution of new caretaker committees, comprising of credible individuals on or before the 12th of May 2022.

“ Constitute caretaker committees to replace all the executive bodies whose elections were deemed to be flawed by on or before the 12th of May 2022. The list of markets affected are as follows:

1. OSE OKWODU

2. OGBARU MAIN MARKET (RELIEF MARKET)

“ The Government will put in place a framework to hold transparent, free and fair elections across affected markets by Option A4 (All registered members will be expected to stand behind their preferred candidate in an open election). All elections will be held between March and April, 2023

“ Create a credible voter register across all markets by accrediting only properly registered members of each market, as those eligible to vote in elections in the market.

“ Eligibility for voting in any market election will henceforth be based on participation in the enumeration process.

“ There is no increase whatsoever in the levies collected in the market by unions or government.”