Christmas: Traders complain of poor sales, urge govt., organisations to pay workers’ salaries
NAN-AE-2
Workers
By Kudirat Ogunyemi
Abuja, Dec. 21, 2016 (NAN) Traders at the Dutse Main Market in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have expressed regrets about the low patronage of their goods, due to the prevailing economic situation in the country.
They had there for appealed to the three tiers of government and other corporate organsations to pay workers salary to enable them shop for Christmas and the new year.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that business activities were at a low ebb on Wednesday, as some traders discussed the delay in payment of workers`December salaries.
A fashion designer, Mr Oladele Joseph told NAN that the economic recession in the country was affecting many business activities, resulting in low level of patronage.
Joseph explained that due to the economic situation, the numbers of people interested in sewing new clothes had decreased compared to what obtained during past festivities.
“We are really experiencing low patronage and our customers are complaining of no money with many of them saying they are yet to receive both November and December salaries.
“We can be in this market from morning till the time we close for the day, nobody will come pricing our goods let alone buying them, a situation that is becoming pathetic.
“I am sure if government pays workers’ salaries before the end of this week, sales will definitely improve,”he said.
A buyer, Miss Caroline Nonso, who came to buy food items, told NAN that she might not be able to purchase any clothes or other expensive things for her children during this Christmas celebration due to paucity of funds.
She said her concentration would be on spending money on foodstuffs.
“The situation of the country calls for caution, especially for those of us who are civil servants.
“The prices of all the commodities have gone up and there is no money, even the little you have cannot buy you anything.
“I have not received my November salary and what is the probability that December salary will be paid this year? We need to manage what we have wisely now,”she added.
Mrs Kate Kingdavid, a shoe seller, said that previous years, businesses would had peaked and everyone happy and be in festive mood.
“We are not seeing enough customers and again, the products are very costly in view of the exchange rate of the Naira to the dollar.
“Traders are witnessing one of the worst business downturns in recent history and many have closed their shops.
“Some of us that are still in business, are just hoping that things will get better and our business will come back as it used to be,” Kingdavid said.
Mr Yahaya Umaru, a foodstuff dealer, urged all tiers of government to end the current recession and pay workers’ salaries on time to allow them shop for the period.
“The business is not moving as expected in view of the season we are and the reason is quite obvious.
“The prices of food items have gone up and the people’s purchasing power is low due to the prevailing inflation.
“I am appealing to the government to urgently address the galloping inflation being witnessed now,”he said.
He explained that a measure (mudu) of rice which previously sold at N500 now costs between N700 and N800, while a small paint bucket of beans which previously sold at N1,200 now costs N2,500.
She attributed the increase in prices of foodstuffs and other commodities to the galloping inflation in the country. (NAN)
ROK/MOL/
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(Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Julius Enehikhuere)
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