By Francis Akinnodi

|

The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe have lamented the poor state of the environment in most of the markets in Ekiti State.

The monarch equally condemned the poor maintenance culture on the part of some market users.

Adejugbe particularly bemoaned the near total absence of amenities, especially toilets and water sources in the markets.

The traditional ruler spoke when he received in audience, the Ekiti chapter executives of the newly formed National Union of Market Traders Employers of Nigeria, NUMTEN in his palace.

According to him, there are currently over 25 markets in Ado-Ekiti alone, with none having appreciable state of sanitation arrangements.

Represented by the Sasere of Ado-Ekiti, Chief Segun Famuagun, the monarch who commended the Federal Government for approving the establishment of the union, said everything humanly possible should be done to change the tide.

He urged the union to impress it on all levels of government, especially at local level, on the need to put every necessary sanitation indices in the markets and do regular follow-ups through regular maintenance, so as to guarantee clean environment and safeguard health of the people.

The monarch promised his support, and that of his chiefs, for the successful operations of the union, advising it to carry out its activities in line with the rule of law and respect for human dignity.

Earlier, the Ekiti State Chairman of the union, Morakinyo Akintoye explained that NUMTEM was newly approved by the Federal Government to function under the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, with the principal mandate of bringing orderliness to the nation’s markets.