SOJI AJIBOLA, Ibadan
Oyo State House of Assembly has accused market leaders in the state of indulging in fraudulent fraudulent activities including construction of illegal stalls and diversion of state revenue.
The lawmakers has, therefore, directed the relevant agencies of government to probe the activities of some market leaders in the state.
This followed the deliberation of a motion titled, ‘Urgent needs to curb illegalities, mismanagement and revenue leakages in markets across the state.
Presenting the motion on the floor of the House, the Chairman, House Committee on Commerce, Akinjide Olajide, said the illegal structures at various markets have distorted the original physical plans, and, as well make it look unattractive.
He argued that alterations of physical outlay of markets in the state, as well as mismanagement of public facilities were the remote causes of losses recorded during fire outbreaks incidents.
He said the blockage of access roads and other road networks in markets with unapproved structures always made it impossible for fire fighters to access scene of incidents whenever there was an emergency.
He submitted that most markets in the state were designed to meet international standards for the purpose of promoting commerce, industry and achieving sundry other economic goals in a serene environment, but the intents were being hampered by market leaders.
He lamented that illegal collection of government revenue had become the order of the day in some markets, thereby undermining state’s efforts at generating revenue for infrastructural development within the state.
He called for the improvement of sanitation of markets across the state and the entrenchment of discipline in a bid to combat revenue leakages and, thereby, engender economic development.
In their various contributions, other lawmakers at the plenary described the motion as timely and relevant for the growth and development of the state considering its potential as a tool for checking irregularities and other unethical activities within the markets at the expense of the state.
They unanimously urged the state government to put measures in place to resuscitate and empower the task force on markets.
In his reaction at the plenary, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, said the safety of all markets in the state should be paramount to all stakeholders. He pledged that the House would make adequate check on issues of welfare, security and revenue generation in markets across the state.