By Peoples’ Guide Reporters
The Executive Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Hon. Barr Sunday Basil Nwankwo has pledged to partner members of the State and Ikwo Local Government wing of Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN) to register and harmonize revenue documentation of Informal Sectors and businesses in the Council. He made the pledge when he played host to State and Local Government leadership of MATAN in his office at Onuebonyi-Echara.
The Council Chairman assured the group that Ikwo Local Government Council will give them every needed support to succeed in their very important and strategic rescue mission of collecting the statistics and other viable information of those in the informal sector of the economy. He flagged off the Registration exercise and charged the field officers to abide by rules of engagement and should not abuse the opportunity provided through the partnership with government.
Earlier in their address, the Ebonyi State Chairman of Market Traders Association of Nigeria, MATAN, Mr. Godwin Okpoto and the State Secretary, Mr. Ifeanyi Atuma said they were in the Local Government Area for the flag-off of the registration of those in the informal sector. They explained that Informal sector of the economy encompasses those whose activities and sources of income are not fully regulated by the government or public authorities. These include farmers, market traders, artisans, among others.
They also revealed that Ikwo Local Government Area is one of the three LGAs in the State selected for the pilot phase of the registration. Other LGAs in the same cadres with Ikwo are Izzi and Afikpo LGAs.
Highpoints of the engagement was the pilot registration and data capturing of of informal sectors of businesses present at the Council in the presence of the Executive Chairman and other stakeholders.
Also present at the event are HRH Eze Dominic Alo, KSJI, the Traditional of Amegu community who is also the Grand Patron of MATAN in the local government, HRH Eze Pius Nte Ube of Ndufu Echara Community and Eze Ezekiel Oyika of Okpuitumo community.