Resolved to address issues confronting markets in Lagos State, stakeholders have proffered workable solutions as the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Adewale canvassed for the restoration of traditional rulers’ role in the market place.
The stakeholders at the public hearing on Monday took turns to make differing contributions, on the Market Authority Bill 2024 at a day public hearing on a proposed law to establish the Lagos State Authority for the Registration, Formation, and Operation of Market Associations and for Connected Purposes, while the monarch charged the government on the diminishing roles of traditional rulers in governance at the federal and state levels.
This was just as the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa said that the bill is timely and that it would properly regulate market operations.
Oba Adewale revealed that he had questioned President Bola Tinubu about the erosion of the roles of traditional rulers, but that the President responded that it was a constitutional matter.
“I challenge the Speaker of this Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and other lawmakers to address the constitutional changes that removed the roles of traditional rulers from governance,” Oba Adewale said.
He however, urged lawmakers in the Assembly to incorporate the roles of traditional rulers in the law that will govern market associations in the state.
Chief Folashade Adedeji, the Iyaloja of Ibaland, spoke about the potential relocation of market women due to the bill.
“Anything in the law that would remove us from our current locations should be removed,” she said.
Other stakeholders, representing various associations, called for the law to harmonise market operations, improve sanitation, and enhance coordination among market associations.
In his opening remarks, Speaker Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa emphasized the significance of the bill, stating that it seeks to regulate market operations and provide policy recommendations to the government on market-related issues, such as fair pricing and management.
“This bill is timely and necessary. It will regulate and coordinate our markets, introducing modern practices and ensuring proper identification of all market participants,” Obasa stated.
He also highlighted the roles of the bill in promoting compliance with environmental laws, improving sanitation, and eradicating illegal structures and street trading.
“This Bill has come at the very right time because with this important bill, our markets can be well regulated and coordinated. It will bring about modern practices whereby everyone that owns a space in the market would be properly identified with their exact location.
“This Bill would also bring about compliance with the environmental laws of the State, where every of our market would be tidy and also eradicate street trading and illegal structures which goes against the plans of every market.
“The most important aspect is also to regulate and recommend policies to the government regarding problems on market affairs, which includes fair pricing with modern best practices. It would also bring about structure for management of these market places,” he said.
The Speaker stressed that the Lagos State House of Assembly values public direct contributions in the making of the laws in Lagos State through public hearings.
Responding to concerns raised during the hearing, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Mojisola Lasbat, representing the Speaker, assured stakeholders that the bill would not result in the relocation of market women.
She also acknowledged the traditional ruler’s concerns, reiterating that the bill’s primary goal is to enhance business, security, and planning through the proper registration and data collection of market associations.
“The bill, when passed into law, will promote business and security, with no intention of displacing anyone from their market locations,” Lasbat assured.
Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development, noted that once passed, the law would ensure effective monitoring of market activities and improve record-keeping on sanitation.
The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Adams Noheem, detailed the bill’s structure, stating that it contains 55 clauses and would establish a 31-member authority, including the Iyaloja-General, to oversee market operations.