Traders protest 100% increase in electricity, security fees by OMATAN in Enugu

Traders of Ogige Market in Nsukka, Enugu state Tuesday throng the Enugu road of the University town protesting the allege 100 hundred percent increase in their monthly payment of both electricity and security fees.

The traders carrying placards during the protest which reads: “The Increase from N500 to N1000 electricity fee and N200 to N400 security are too much in this recession”, “We want peace in the market and not what will create problems”, “The market leadership should change its decision as trader will not be able to pay the new electricity and security fees.”

Spokesperson of the aggrieved traders who pleaded anonymity said it’s too earlier for the new chairman of Ogige Market Amalgamated Traders Association Nsukka (OMATAN) Mrs. Ngozi Ozioko to increase the monthly electricity and security fees paid by the traders.

“Traders are saying no to this one hundred percent increase in amount paid monthly for electricity and security fees.

“We want to pay N500 not N1000 for electricity and N200 for security and not N400, traders are not making much sales as result of economic recession.

“Even if there will be increased it should not be now the economy is very difficult in the country, “he said.

The protesters who marched to the Nsukka Local Government secretariat as well as Saint Theresa’s catholic cathedral were reportedly addressed by the Transitional Council Chairman, Prof. Rose Onah and Bishop Godfery Onah respectively.

Speaking to Daily Times, chairman of OMATAN described the protest as uncalled for and baseless that all patrons, matrons and line delegates representing all lines in the market have endorsed the increase of electricity and security fees at their meeting last Saturday.

“I was not the only person that took the decision it was agreed by the market patrons, matrons. Line delegates of traders in the market.

“This protest is an act of sabotage by those elements who want to paint my administration black; beside majority of those who participated in the protest are not traders but are hired boys.

Ozioko attributed the increase to the improvement in both electricity supply and security.

“Now the traders are happy because there is improvement in electricity supply as against the rationing before I assumed office.

“Since I assumed office no trader has reported that his or shop was broken at night which was common before.

“As a result of the improvement many traders are saving the money they could have spent to buy fuel for their generating sets,” she said.

The OMATAN chairman said using of electricity in the market was not compulsory, adding that any trader who doesn’t want public electricity will be disconnected from the power source and will not be expected to pay electricity fee.

“Nobody made it mandatory that every trader in the market must use electricity, when I assumed office I inherited about N1million as arrears owed EEDC and it has to be paid,” she said.