Market women protest use of weighing scales in Osun

A section of women at Igbona Market in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun state, on Thursday, staged a peaceful demonstration to protest against the ultimatum given by Governor Rauf Aregbesolas Osun state government over the use of weighing scales known as Osuwon Omoluabi.

The less than 100 women under the aegis of Igbona Market Women Petty Traders Association, closed their shops and stormed the Government Secretariat, Abere armed with their measuring bowls.

Recall that in a bit to standardize trade activities in the state, the state government of Osun had introduced weighing scales and encouraged all markets in the state to align with this policy.

The policy, which was introduced about a year ago with the support of various market leaders across the state, will end the imbalance in the measurement of goods in the markets.

Though the government, through representatives of market associations, had agreed to allow the time frame of one year for the policy to take effect on their members, the market women had pleaded with government to extend the enforcement.

The government had subsidized the scaling for the market women, a development that caused the government to carry the larger burden.

Addressing the protesters, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce, Hon. Simeon Olufemi Popoola, noted that the government will look into the pleadings of the traders.

Nigeria is the only country amongst its neighbours without standardized measuring scales for its trading activities.