Ekiti Transport workers reduce price of fares

The Ekiti State government and transport unions has agreed to reduce cost of intra and inter-state transportation in the state.

This resolution followed four days of negotiation parley between government representatives and leaders of transport unions, shortly after Governor Kayode Fayemi declared war against hike in the prices of goods and services in the State.

Meanwhile In continuation of its efforts to address the hike in prices of goods and services in Ekiti State, the state government also met with rice distributors in the state on how they will bring down the price of the commodity for the over all interest of the general public.

The Chief of staff to the Governor, Hon Biodun Omoleye, represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Mobilization, Prince Tunji Ogunlola expressed concern over the increase in the price of rice in the state.

Hon. Omoleye observed that price for a bag of rice in the neighbouring states are far less than what is obtainable in Ekiti State, called on the distributors to make necessary adjustment for the interest of the citizenry.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Community Engagement and Enlightenment, Hon Tosin Aluko, described rice as a popular food in the country and expressed worry how the food now become unaffordable for the average Ekiti people.

Hon Aluko enjoined the rice sellers to reduce the price, assured them of government supports.

In his response, one of the prominent rice distributor in the state, Mrs Yetunde Ogunkande attributed hike in the price of rice to high cost of transportation, border closure, Ekiti being far from the border, and imposition of taxes from various government agencies.

Mrs Ogunkande said drivers charge 1000 per bag while the Custom charge them 500 per bag.

In his contribution, the Chairman of Beans Sellers in Shasha Market, Alhaji Mustapha Sheu said some people are hoarding the rice and sell at exorbitant price during festive season, callimg on government to come hard on such people.

Other government officials who spoke at the meeting are Senior Special Assistant on Women Advocacy, Mrs Tola Ajayi Odoko, SA Political affairs, South, Hon Ilesanmi Oguntuase, Hon Ebenezer Olajuwon and Hon. Kayode Olowookere and they all appealed to the rice sellers to reduce the price.

After a lot of deliberation, the distributors agreed to meet with their members and come back within 24hrs to feed the government back.

Speaking on behalf of the transport unions, the Ekiti State chapter of the Road Transport Employer’s Association of Nigerian (RTEAN), Olanbiwonninu Rotimi announced that members of the union had agreed that some of the prices would be reverted to the old prices while some would be reviewed downwards.