Ogbogonogo Market: Leaders Decry Dissolution of EXCO BY Oshimili South Council
By Jude Ojiugo-Onochie
Market leaders at Ogbogonogo, the Central Market in Asaba the Delta State Capital have decried the dissolution of the market EXCO, the governing body of the market by Oshimili South Local Government, while calling on the Council to return the administration of the market, which is now directly managed by the local government to the traders
Speaking at a recent meeting of Delta State Tax Justice and Good Governance Platform, which took place in Asaba, the market leaders said the dissolution has resulted in the deterioration of such services provided in the market, such as water supply, electricitu, toilet and sanitation, as well as security, while there is a resurgence of the problem of multiple taxation, which had decreased significantly as a result of the advocacy activities of Delta State Tax Justice and Good Governance Platform.
According to Pastor Cyril Eluenike, the secretary of the defunct EXCO “Since the dissolution of the EXCO we have started seeing a resurgence of the multiple taxation and services, notably electricity, toilets, water and sanitation and security are fast deteriorating.
Pastor Eluenike said, it is the fervent desire of the traders to run the affairs of the market by themselves.
Among several others, Mrs. Lilian Adigwe a prominent leader in the market who was the Chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee, before the dissolution of the EXCO spoke in the same vein, noting that the situation in the market is deplorable with increasing incidence of multiple taxation and deterioration of services. She said the traders are in a better position to run the affairs of the market and called for a discontinuation of the administration of the market by the Council, so that traders can assure their rightful responsibility of managing the market.
It is feared that recent gains recorded in the market, in terms of the reduction in the number of taxes and levies paid by traders and the improvement in the services as a result of the efforts of Delta State Tax Justice and Good Governance Platform, are threatened and could be lost if nothing is done urgently to return the administration of the market to traders.
A multi – Sectoral body, Delta State Tax Justice and Good Governance Platform was established in 2015 to promote fair and just Tax system in the State.
It is sponsored by OXFAM – NOVIB with CISLAC as facilitator.
The platform has over the years worked through research, consultative meetings, stakeholder meetings, advocacy and desensitisation campaigns to achieve its objective.
The platform is domiciled at Int’l Centre for Women Empowerment and Child Dev. (ICWECD) which also serves as its Secretariat in Delta State.
The founder and CEO of ICWECD Barr. Bridget Anyafulu, who is now the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Oshimili South seat in the State House of Assembly, was the first co-ordinator of the platform in Delta State.
The former Commissioner for Humanitarian & Community Support Services resigned.
Her position as the State Co-ordinator of the platform, when she was appointed the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, on Child Rights Advocacy in 2016, about half way in the first tenure of Dr. Okowa as Governor.
The meeting of the platform, which took place on Monday 1st August in Asaba, was held at the instance of OXFAM -NOBIB, the sponsor of the platform.
It was held as part of the annual appraisal tour of OXFAM to branches of the platform across Nigeria.y
