Ekiti moves against hike in prices of goods, services

Meets transport unions, others
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 the 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 government would not fail in performing its statutory responsibility in creating and sustaining a business-friendly environment, the governor stressed that anyone 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.

They lamented that proceeds from trips embarked upon by transporters barely cover the cost of purchasing fuel if they don’t operate in full capacity.