By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The National Union of Market Traders Employers of Nigeria (NUMTEN), Friday, inaugurated her State and 21 Council Areas officials with a call for stakeholders to join rally round the union for improved welfare of Market workforce.
The National President of NUMTEN, Comrade James Ogu, who performed the inauguration in Awka, Anambra State capital, said they were empowered to unionise and look after the welfare of all stakeholders and Nigeria market traders generally.
According to him, the union would also ensure social protection to market traders through introduction of pension by partnering with National Pension Commission (PENCON), as well as work with relevant agencies and government towards improving members healthy living and access to loans.
He further urged cooperation of all market stakeholders in Anambra State in order to make the market arena more conducive for trading, including the aims and objectives of establishing the union.
The National President further maintained that they were committed towards ensuring that collection of multiple levies, security challenges, oppression and other inhuman activities across markets in Anambra State were put to an end.
On his part, the Anambra State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, described the union as force to reckon with given their strength and calibres of members, and pledged support of the congress towards ensuring that their objectives were realised.
Also speaking, the State Chairman, NUMTEN, Prince Nnamsom Nwafor-Orizu, urged cooperation of all stakeholders and market traders in Anambra State with a view to improving members welfare and common good of the citizenry.
Nwafor-Orizu, who recalled that Anambra State was blessed with human and material resources, including markets and traders, pledged to run an open door policy even as he pledged to mobilise more members.
Contributing, the Traditional Ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, represented by Sir Chudi Ononye, described the Igbo nation as a blessed people and implored the populace to invest home as well so as to develop the region same way they had uplifted their respective host States.
Also, the AIG Zone 13 Ukpo, Godwin Ndidi Aghaulor, represented by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Ihunwo, pledged the police support security wise to enable them succeed in their operations as market traders.
Earlier, one of the award recipients in the programme, Mr Chinedu Anyaso, who is the Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu community depot in charge of Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra States, commended NUMTEN for forming a formidable force to improve the lives of members and Nigeria generally.