…..As Group President, Hon. Barr. Chinwe Monu Olarewaju Says, FGN Ignoring Over 40 Million Market Women to Their Own Detriment.
……. Best Policy Programs Towards Women Development, Empowerment And Support Will Promote Economic growth and development.
By Victor Bieni, Asaba
National President, Association of Traders And Market Leaders of Nigeria (NATMALC), Aare Iyaoloja of Nigeria, Hon. Barr. Chinwe Monu Olanrewaju has called on the Federal Ministry of Trade And Investments, State Ministries of Trade And Investments to look critically towards involving the real Market Women Leaders in the country towards decision making processes, Policy programs that will positively affect the group for sustainable socio-economic development of the country.
Hon. Monu Olanrewaju, one time Commissioner and Local Government Chairman in Delta State made this assertion while addressing some group of Journalists at Grand Hotel, Asaba, Delta State capital during the two-day (26th-27th May, 2021) Zonal Public Hearing organized by Senate Committee On Review of 1999 Constitution soon after her presentation of her paper on the need for Market Setting Restructuring in the Nigerian Constitution towards the Empowerment and development of over 40 Million Market Women and Leaders in the country.
The country’s number one market leader noted that if Nigeria must move forward, that Ministries and Agencies charged with these responsibilities must promote proper recognition and peaceful co-existence among traders, Market Leaders; promote quality and constant Education, Sensitization and orientation of Market Leaders and Traders through various avenues from Government in terms of members mobilization, training, technical Workshops, general meetings, Seminars, participation in both local, International conferences, and events.
She noted further that her group is seeking for inclusion of best increased access to funding supports, credit facilities and interventions, increase engagement and advocacy with the Government, fully domesticate gender mainstreaming, balancing for Women participation in politics, ensure welfare of market women, reduction of fire incidents in markets across the country to be implemented and taken seriously by all stakeholders in every state in Nigeria and all strata of the society.
While restating NATMALC Commitment towards upholding her core values in the area of quality service, product delivery, accountability, transparency, unity, honesty, cooperation and respect for all in the market places and everywhere in the country, she stated that the amendment, policy inclusion in the Nigerian 1999 Constitution has become necessary to empower, develop, and gainfully employ over 40 million market women, and leaders once ignored by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
She then called on Policy makers, the three tiers of Government, individuals and agencies not to only focus on taxation accrued from the markets women, rather that the country should lend maximum support to NATMALC leadership in the group’s quest towards the promotion of good health, economic empowerment for market women and leaders, good hygiene in the general market environment, educate traders on various policies or programs of government at all levels, maintenance of peaceful co-existence, good physical and environmental hygiene, enjoyment of freedom, access to Justice and how to make progress in their various trade.
Hon. Olanrewaju lamenting the high level of inflation in some parts of the country then advocated for a standard measurement of products across the country to reflects what is obtainable to both South-South, South West, South East, North East, North Central, and North West Geo-political zones of the country to promote trust and equity and checkmate unusual inflation in Nigeria.
She then called on the Governments, Stakeholders to support the market women and leaders in making facilities such as fire extinguishers available in their market places to checkmate the rampant incidences of fire outbreaks in markets across the country, while adding that the roles market women play in the economic growth and development of the country cannot be over-emphasised as they remain dependable allies, and the country’s economic backbone.