The Guardian (Nigeria)

Ekiti moves against hike in prices of goods, services

Meets transport unions, others

- From Ayodele Afolabi, Ado- Ekiti

EKITI State government has declared war against hike in prices of goods and services with a charge on transport unions and other relevant groups to make a downward review in prices of goods and services.

The state governor , Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in a meeting with leaders of transport unions and other stakeholde­rs in Ado- Ekiti, at the weekend, expressed surprise at the sudden and rapid increase in transport fares and prices of commoditie­s in the state.

The situation, according to the governor, has affected other sectors of the economy, resulting in increase in the price of goods and services, which has placed hardship on the people of the state.

Expressing the readiness of government to crash the prices of commoditie­s in the state, Fayemi assured that a taskforce comprising representa­tives of various economic sectors would be constitute­d to monitor and regulate the prices of commodity across the state.

While promising that gov - ernment would not fail in performing its statutor y responsibi­lity in creating and sustaining a businessfr­iendly environmen­t, the governor stressed that any - one that failed to comply with government regulation­s to make life comfortabl­e for the people of the state would be sanctioned accordingl­y.

He disclosed that a further meeting had been slated to enable leadership of the transport unions meet with their members and resolve downward review of transport fares across the state.

Earlier, the state Chairman of RTEAN, Ekiti State Chapter, Olanbiwonn­inu Rotimi and others, said the hike in petroleum products, vehicle spare- parts and the COVID- 19 guidelines that restricted commercial vehicles from operating in full capacity were responsibl­e for the hike in transport fares.

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