By our correspondent
The House of Representatives has urged that the Price Control Board of Nigeria be awake to its responsibilities.
The House noted that the Price Control Board of Nigeria has left its responsibilities to the marketers, now responsible for increasing the prices of commodities with impunity and to the detriment of consumers.
It mandated the Committee on Commerce to investigate the daily increase in prices of commodities in the country at random and report within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Jesess Okey-Joe Onuakalusi.
The House also noted that the take home pay of Nigerian civil servants has not increased, yet workers are witnessing an increase in the prices of commodities daily in our markets;l.
It recalled that the Act establishing a governing body known as the Price Control Board is responsible for overseeing and enforcing price control regulations.
It said the Act also establishes for each state a committee to be the Price Control Committee to advise and assist the Board on the implementation of this Act, but without an outcome as the Board is inactive.
The House said it was aware that the responsibilities of the Price Control Board of Nigeria are to regulate the prices of all commodities in Nigeria and ensure that the marketers comply for the prices to be comparable with the income of the Nigerian civil servants.
It expressed concern that this trend of leaving the prices of commodities at the marketer’s discretion is affecting mostly low-income earners and also increasing crime, as individuals unable to afford to purchase at an exorbitant price will resort to other means or steal.
The House was disturbed that the Price Control Board of Nigeria takes no action to checkmate this menace of daily price increases.
