Ughelli Women Lament As LG Boss Plans To Increase Market Stores From N6,000 To N48,000

Say Warri, Igbudu, Agbarho Markets Still Pay Within N5,000 To N6,000 Yearly

The Otor-Iwhreko market women, Ughelli North local government area of Delta state, yesterday, lamented over 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 to newsmen said they cannot accept such high increment.

The women had in the statement appealed to the Ughelli North Council Chairman, Hon Jarod Egbo to reduce the lock-up stores’ rent to twelve thousand naira yearly, pointing out that their counterparts in Igbudu, Warri main market, Agbarho and others are paying between five and six thousand annually, saying why is that of Ughellu market now different.

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The leadership of the market women 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.

The market women said they have on three occasions visited the council chairman at the office and at home on the issue, maintaining that their position to pay twelve thousand naira annually still stands, saying that no council chairman from previous administrations have come up with this 100% increment.

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.”