Group seeks NLC, TUC intervention on ban of street trading in Lagos

The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has sought the intervention of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) the on decision of Lagos State government to ban street trading and its patronage.

The Chairman of CDWR, Olusesan Rufus, said the decision by the government was contrary to the law that guides street trading and hawking in Nigeria.

In a statement made available to The Guardian, Rufus said the government “should provide answers to certain questions as they strive to enforce Section One of the odious ‘Street Trading and Illegal Market Prohibition Law 2003 which restricts street trading and hawking within the metropolis. ‘’What alternative have they provided to street trading? Have they provided affordable market places for the poor to trade? If the answer is no, then the law has no justification, and must be expunged forthwith from the Laws of Lagos state.

“In view of down turn in the economy, trading and hawking remain one of the few fall-back options. The fact of the matter is that street trading and hawking is not a decent economic venture anybody will wish to engage in but for the economic condition that forces people into it, hence, attacking these traders is to add insult to injury”.

According to him, government has not provided affordable market places for the poor trader but already made law of fine to be paid by the hawkers, the sum of N90, 000, or six months imprisonment on anybody caught in the act of street-trading or patronizing street traders.