OPINION: Ogun Government and NUMTEN must save traders and consumers from multiple levies and extortion*

The vibrant markets of Ogun State are the backbone of the state’s economy. Every day, thousands of merchants provide goods and services that keep families going. Yet, these same retailers are drowning under pressures that threaten their survival and the well-being of consumers.

Inflation, declining purchasing power and rising operating costs have already made it difficult to do business. To make matters worse, merchants now face a maze of tickets, withdrawals, space fees, taxes and other payments. What should be a simple revenue collection process has become an exploitative system.

The absence of clear regulation and government control has given space to corruption. Multiple agencies, and in many cases unauthorized touts, move through the markets collecting commissions without receipts or accountability. This has led to widespread extortion, intimidation and harassment of marketers. The result is simple; reduced profits for traders, higher prices for consumers and greater difficulties for families already struggling with the cost of living.

This is where the *Ogun State Government and the National Union of Traders, Traders and Employers of Nigeria, NUMTEN* must step in.

The government has a responsibility to protect its citizens and create an enabling environment for business. If this really meant the promulgation that only two types of tickets should be collected, development and environmental, we should also see the government acting on its words. It also means ensuring accountability, so that only authorized people collect withdrawals and that every payment is properly received and tracked. Without this, extortion will continue to thrive under the guise of “government or fictitious revenue.”

*NUMTEN;* As the umbrella body of market traders and employers, it has a duty to defend its members. The union must engage the government on policy, educate traders about their rights and set up mechanisms to report cases of harassment and illegal collections. A strong NUMTEN will give traders a collective voice and protect them from exploitation.

This is really important for consumers. When retailers are overworked, consumers pay the price. Multiple withdrawals are passed on as higher prices for food, clothing and basic necessities. If nothing is done, we risk further business closures, job losses and even deeper poverty across the state.

The time to act is now. The *Ogun State Government* must demonstrate political will by sanitizing revenue collection in our markets. *NUMTEN* must stand up and be the voice of traders on the ground. Together, they can end the cycle of multiple withdrawals, extortion and intimidation.

Saving traders means saving consumers. And saving both means saving the economy of Ogun State.

*Admorak Abdul Lateef writes from Ifo LGA*

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