By Gbenga Sodeinde
Participants at a public hearing on a bill to enact a law on consumers protection in Ekiti State have canvassed for its speedy passage, with a promise to support its implementation.
The bill tagged, Ekiti State Consumers Protection Bill, 2021, aimed to check the excesses of middlemen who hiked prices of goods and foodstuffs in the open markets.
Participants at the public hearing cut across, representatives of Artisan Associations, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, (AFAN), Ekiti chapter, Commercial Motorcycle Riders, leaders of Market Women and Men led by Chief Waye Oso.
Others are representatives of the State Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industries, led by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Ayodele Adeyanju, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress,(NLC), Mr Joshua Kolapo.
They agreed and hinged the high rate of prices of goods in Ekiti to activities of middlemen and lauded the proposed bill, noting that it was coming at the right time.
They called for the creation of a task force to monitor prices of goods and services in the various markets across the state.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chairman of the House Committee on Investment, Trade and Industries, Hon. Yemi Osatuyi, said the bill aimed to protect the right of consumers and citizens in the State.
Hon.Osatuyi said the Public Hearing was organised to get stakeholders contributions to the bill towards its eventual passage.
He remarked the bill, when passed, would create a price control unit to guide against price discrimination and check excesses of sales agents and middlemen on high prices of goods and services in Ekiti State. 