The Abia State government, in a move to improve market administration, has officially inaugurated Micheal Aniorji as the chairman of Ariaria International Market, Aba......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, which took place at the Abia State Secretariat on Thursday, under the auspices of the State Ministry of Trade and Commerce, the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr Kingsley Nwokocha, welcomed the newly appointed executives of various markets across the state.
He emphasised the importance of collective leadership and teamwork, urging the new market heads to serve diligently and uphold the integrity of their offices.
“I would still remind us all that Leadership positions should not be used for personal gain or to form exclusive cliques. Any form of disunity or sidelining of other appointed market leaders will not be tolerated,” Nwokocha said.
Furthermore, he stated that he must be informed about any appointments to zonal leadership positions to ensure proper coordination and adherence to established structures.
He strongly warned against unauthorized revenue collection or any attempts to extort traders, stating that anyone found engaging in such activities would face legal consequences.
He made it clear that there would be no collection of market revenue until a directive comes from His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti,
Addressing concerns regarding leadership changes, Mr Nwokocha confirmed that the leadership of Ekeoha Market remains unchanged for the time being. Any future modifications will be communicated through official channels.
The Commissioner assured the newly inaugurated market executives that the government’s priority is to ensure they work in synergy for the benefit of traders and the overall economic development of the state.
He reiterated that no financial inducements were required for appointments, emphasizing the need for total compliance with government policies.
Furthermore, he announced that the tenure of the newly appointed market executives would last for six months, after which a review would determine whether they would continue in their roles or be replaced.
Certificates of appointment will soon be made available, and all inaugurated executives will be notified when to collect them.
Following the Commissioner’s address, the newly appointed market executives, including Deacon Michael Ogbonnaya Aniorji as Chairman, Michael Uko Ogbajie as Vice Chairman, and Franklin Moses as Chief Security Officer (CSO), took their oath of office and were officially inaugurated.
The commissioner also disclosed that SmartABIA, by the directive of the governor, will be housed within the ministry. He further urged all newly appointed market leaders to collaborate with SmartABIA to enhance market operations and efficiency.