In a bid to return sanity to markets, the Anambra State government has disbanded the caretaker committees of thirty markets.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday and signed by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Obinna Ngonadi .
According to the statement, the dissolution takes immediate effect.
It explained that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry had rolled out policies to reform and modernize markets in the state and make shopping pleasurable so that Anambra State would regain its pride of place as the number one place in trade and commerce.
The statement pointed out that the intention is to strengthen the leadership of the markets to involve progressive governance, so that the unions could become effective partners in the modernization of the markets.
It informed that the reconstitution of new caretaker committees, comprising of credible individuals would take place on or before the 12th of May 2022, while proper elections would take place next year.
“The government will put in place a framework to hold transparent, free and fair elections across affected markets by Option A4 whereby 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
“We will 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”, the statement read.
