By Sarah NEGEDU
The crisis rocking the Abuja Markets Management Limited, AMML, may affect revenue collections from markets across the Federal Capital Territory, as traders have threatened to stop paying levies until the issues are resolved.
Traders from Abuja Markets on Thursday, besieged the Secretariat of the FCTA demanding an end to the leadership tussle in the AMML.
The Abuja Inquirer had last week, reported that the sacked Managing Director, Abubakar Faruk, refused a new leadership to takeover the helm of affairs at the company.
The embattled MD, stormed his former office with the backing of the Police, and locked out the new acting Managing Director, Engr. Abbas Yakubu.
Recall that the former Managing Director was suspended by the immediate past FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, but he reportedly obtained a restraining order and has been allegedly scheming to retain his appointment.
Traders claim that the issue was causing confusion in all the markets because of conflicting orders coming from the two persons claiming to be the managing directors.
Speaking on behalf of traders, the Secretary General of FCT Amalgamated Traders Association, Abubakar Abdullahi, said traders and other business operators in Abuja markets cannot be paying service charge and other levies to the wrong people.
He noted that for the traders to continue to comply with the revenue collection in the markets, FCTA needs to urgently tell them who is the authentic MD of AMML.
Abdullahi, “the trend of problems facing the traders after the coming back of Faruk, the embattled Managing Director of Abuja Markets Management Limited. We have seen videos where different people are dragging for things in the office.
“We in the market are being affected directly when the leadership of AMML is not coordinated. The markets are not stable because of the conflict.
“The service charge and the dues we pay in the market, we are supposed to know exactly who to pay to. AMML is the collector of revenue of any kind in the market for the FCTA, so we want to know who is in charge.
“We have seen a letter from Abuja Investments Company Ltd, terminating the contract of Abubakar Faruk, we have also seen another letter telling us to stop paying money to anybody, so we need to know which order to follow.”
Also Speaking, Hassan Ibrahim, Chairman Arewa Traders Association, FCT Chapter, demanded that Faruk must vacate the office after 13 years as the MD of AMML.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has taken measure to restore traders confidence and also stability in the markets.
Head of Internal Security, FCTA, Mr. Sunday Olubiyi, who addressed the protesters said, “We are aware of the crisis and the Administration is doing everything to resolve it. The Permanent Secretary is also working towards that. You can come with all your documentation”.