Otor-Iwhreko market women, Ughelli North local government area of Delta state, have lamented the proposed plans by the Ughelli North Council Chairman, Hon. Jaro Omovudu Egbo to increase lock-up stores from six thousand naira to forty-eight thousand naira annually.
The market women in a statement by Mr Johwo Olotu, Mrs Florence Ighogboja and Omote Kugbo Onoboke (woman leader) for Food Stuff market and the market Chairlady, Mrs Evelyn Ogheneovo and Mrs Roseline Akpomiemie for Goods market and made available said they cannot accept such high increment.
The women appealed to the Chairman, Hon Egbo to reduce the lock-up stores’ rent to twelve thousand naira yearly, saying that their counterparts in Igbudu, Warri main market, Agbarho and others are paying between five and six thousand annually, while asking, why is that of Ughelli market now different.
The market women leader noted that the Ughelli main market stores’ rents are higher compared to other markets within and outside Ughelli North, hence they are insisting they cannot pay the forty-eight thousands naira alleged to have been proposed by the council chairman.
They said, “When we last visited him at his country home, he asked us how much did we want to pay and we said we will try to convince our people to pay twelve thousand naira, and he got angry, saying that the directive for the increment is from above and not his personal decision, and we also got angry and left.
“We are still appealing to the council chairman, Hon Jaro Egbo, to accept the twelve thousand naira yearly payment, and with this twelve thousand yearly, our payment is still on the high side but yet, we still appealing to him but if he is still insisting on the forty-eight thousand naira, we cannot say anything now but there must be an alternative means.”
