The
National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) has cautioned members
across the country from price increase in commodities, following the new
minimum wage regime increase.
NANTS explained that unjustified increase of commodities would not be tolerated at all from the body’
Recall that the Federal Government recently approved N30, 000 minimum wages for all cadres of workers across the country.
President
of the NANTS, Mr. Ken Ukaoha, who gave the warning on Monday in Abuja
said that every trader must avoid the temptation of being lured into
such selfish act as a means of enrichment and must realize that hiking
prices on one commodity automatically rises of others
Ukaoha spoke at
‘the Training Workshop for NANTS Leadership on Tracking the Commitments
of Political Actors to the Farmers Manifesto and Traders Charter of
Demands”.
Ukaoha however noted that “And no trader deals on all items
of need. Therefore, once a trader raises the price of his or her
commodity, the seller of the commodity she or he needs will also jack up
in the same manner and this negative circle will only be multiplying
poverty to everyone and dealing a dirty blow on the overall economy
which has further implications on everyone,” he said.
The NANTS boss
also urged the Government to urgently find solution to the worsening
insecurity situation in the country as traders currently are refraining
from traveling to most parts of the North for fear of being kidnap or
killed.
He said, “Life is speedily becoming worthless. The economy,
especially of the North is speedily losing grip; farmers are dislodged
from their farms courtesy of insurgency and crises with herders, and
productivity is grossly reducing
“Traders on their part are getting scared of moving the few goods available towards the required market destinations.”
Ukaoha
said that before the last General Elections, the NANTS systematically
developed two demand documents, the ‘Farmers Manifesto’ and the ‘Traders
Charter of Demands’ which articulated their challenges, concerns,
interests and priorities as a bargaining document with which they
negotiated with political actors