Nsukka, Nigeria – Chief Jude Asogwa, the Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area (LGA) in Enugu State has dissolved the executives of six markets in Nsukka town following a series of petitions and court orders on alleged misconducts in the affected markets.
Asogwa announced the dissolution of the executives in Nsukka on Wednesday during the inauguration of a 10-man Nsukka Markets Allocation and Verification Committee on the affected markets.
He said the affected markets are; Ogige Main Market, Aku Road Market, Building Materials Market, Opi Market, Ikpa Market and Nsukka Mechanic Village.
The chairman said that the council would immediately appoint caretaker committees to oversee the activities of the affected market for the main time.
According to the council boss, Bishop Godfrey Onah of Nsukka Catholic Diocese and Bishop Aloysius Agbo of the Nsukka Anglican Diocese will be Co-chairmen while Prof. Obiamaka Egbo, a Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Peter Mbah on Public Financial Management, would serve as the Secretary of the committee.
Asogwa explained that the council decided to use the two bishops as co-chairmen to guarantee confidence and trust on the activities of the committee since it would be very difficult to bribe or compromise the two respected men of God.
“Since 30th September when I took over as the council chairman, I have received over 100 petitions and 30 court orders on alleged misconducts on market, shop allocations and related problems.
“This shows that there are problems in the affected markets, and this informed reasons we set up the market allocation and verification committee to look into the issues.
“The committee is expected to submit its report within six weeks as the council will use the white paper on it as a working document.
“We involved the two bishops because we know that they have the trust and confidence of the people as no one will be able to bribe or compromise them,” he said.
The LG Boss listed the terms of reference for the committee to include; Identifying all the affected markets and number of shops allocated or not allocated in Ikpa, Ogige, Aku Road, Opi, Building materials market’s and Mechanic Village.
Verify and review all documents and authorities for such allocations. Invite and interview all the affected allottees or all those with any vested interests, collate and review every document affecting or relating to the allocation to confirm its authenticity or otherwise.
Other terms of reference are; to verify all the financial accounts, payments and authorities involved, including all the revenues generated or otherwise.
Review and determine any other area that may be incidental to this assignment as well as make recommendations to the Local Government from its findings.
Asogwa said the essence of setting up the verification committee was to ensure sanity, accountability and transparency in the affected markets.
“The executives of the affected markets are dissolved to enable the verification committee to have unhindered access to relevant documents and information that will help them in their assignments.
“I urge all traders, residents and former executives of the markets to give the committee their maximum corporation to enable them deliver on their mandate,” he said.
Responding, Bishop Agbo, who spoke on behalf of Bishop Onah, who is outside country but was represented by Rev. Fr. Simon Ugwueze, Director of Justice and Peace Commission in Nsukka Catholic Diocese, commended Asogwa for his boldness in setting up the verification committee.
This committee is expected to correct certain alleged anomalies that made some residence to petition the council as well as seek redress in court.
“Ordinarily, we, bishops, will not accept membership of this committee because we have so many things in our hands but we accepted it hoping that we will help to sanitize the affected markets as well as bring relief to genuine aggrieved traders.
“I urge traders and Nsukka residents to give the committee the maximum support and cooperation so that the objective of setting up the committee will be achieved.
“People should know that one day we will stand before God to give account of our stewardship and we should also know that good name is better than riches,” he said.
Mrs Ngozi Ozioko, Mr. Afamefuna Ezema and Nkemdilim Ugwuagbo, who until the dissolution of the market executives were chairmen of Ogige market, building materials and Aku Road Market respectively, spoke on the development.
In their separate remarks, they commended the Nsukka council chairman for setting up the verification committee to which they pledged their maximum cooperation and also expressed their readiness to appear before the committee when invited.
They expressed confidence in the caliber of people that made up the committee especially the two bishops who are the co-chairmen of the committee.
