The Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area in Enugu State, Chief Jude Asogwa, has dissolved the executives of six markets in Nsukka town as a result of series of petitions and court orders on alleged shop allocation misconducts.
Asogwa announced the dissolution of the executives of the markets in Nsukka on Tuesday in a remark during the inauguration of a 10-man Nsukka Markets Allocation and Verification Committee in the affected markets.
He said the affected markets are; Ogige Main Markets, Aku Road Market, Building Materials Market, Opi Market, Ikpa Market, and Nsukka Mechanic Village, adding that the council will appoint caretaker committees to oversee the administration of the affected markets.
According to the council Chairman Bishop Godfrey Onah of Nsukka Catholic Diocese will be the Chairman and Bishop Aloysius Agbo of Nsukka Anglican Diocese will as co-chairman while Prof. Obiamaka Egbo, a Senior Special Assistant (SPA) to the Gov. Peter Mbah on Public Financial Management, as the secretary of the committee.
The chairman said the council decided to use the two bishops as Chairman and co-chairman to guarantee confidence and trust in the activities of the committee since it would be very difficult to bribe or compromise the two respected clergymen.
"Since 30th September I took over as the council chairman, I have received over 100 petitions and 30 court orders on alleged misconducts on the markets shop allocations, and related problems.
"This shows that there is a serious problem in these affected markets, hence the reason we set up the market allocation and verification committee to look into the issues and submit their finding within six weeks as the council will use their white paper as a working document.
"We involved the two bishops because we know that they have the trust and confidence of the people as no one will bribe or compromise them," he said.
The LG Boss listed terms of reference for the committee to include; To identify all the affected markets and the number of shops allocated and still not allocated in Ikpa Market, Ogige Market, Aku Road Market, Mechanic Village and Building Materials Markets, and Opi Market. Verify and review all documents and authorities for such allocation. Invite and interview all the affected allottees or all those with any vested interests, and collate and review every document affecting or relating to the allocation to confirm its authenticity or otherwise.
Other terms of reference are; to verify all the financial accounts, payments, and authorities involved, including all the revenues generated or otherwise. Review and determine any other area that may be incidental to this assignment. Make recommendations to the Local Government from these findings.
"The essence of setting up the verification committee is to ensure accountability and transparency, as well as to suggest how to make Nsukka markets economically viable.
"Market is primarily a local government assignment. The core job of the executives of the markets unions is the welfare of their members. So, today the executives of the affected markets are hereby dissolved.
"We are not targeting anybody, rather we want the committee to have unhindered access to relevant documents and other information that will help them in their assignments.
"I urge the traders, residents, and former executives of the markets to give the committee their maximum corporation to enable them to deliver on their mandate," he said.
He warned that anybody doing business with the dissolved markets executives is doing so at his or her own risk, urging the aggrieved traders to channel their complaints and petitions to the new committee.
Responding, Bishop Agbo the co-chairman of the committee who spoke on behalf of Bishop Onah commended Asogwa for his boldness in setting up the verification committee that is expected to correct certain anomalies that made some residents to petition the council and seek redress in court.
"Ordinarily, we bishops would not accept membership of this committee but we accepted it hoping that our recommendation would help to sanitize activities on the affected market, and bring relief to some of the aggrieved traders.
"I urge traders and Nsukka residents to cooperate with the committee so that the objective of setting up the committee will be achieved.
"People should know that one day we will stand before God to give an account of our stewardship and we should also know that good name is better than riches," he said.
Mrs. Ngozi Ozioko, Mr. Afamefuna Ezema, Nkemdilim Ugwuagbo, who until the desolation of the market executives were chairmen of Ogige market, building material, and Aku road market respectively in their separate remarks commended the council chairman for setting up the verification committee which they pledged their maximum cooperation and expressed their readiness to appear before it when needed.
They expressed confidence in the caliber of people that made up the committee especially the two bishops who are the chairman and co-chairman of the committee.
The meeting was attended by all market executives in Nsukka local government, as well as other relevant stakeholders. Bishop Onah was represented by Rev. Fr. Simon Ugwueze, Director of Justice and Peace Commission in Nsukka Catholic diocese.
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