Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has announced plans for a government-supported bulk purchasing scheme intended to make staple foods and household essentials more affordable, alongside an expansion of public transport services.
The governor outlined the proposals at a meeting with organized labour leaders in Ijebu-Ode. He said the planned Gateway Trading Corporation would purchase commodities in larger quantities to negotiate lower prices and offer residents an alternative to prevailing market rates.
Abiodun credited the idea to a suggestion from state Nigeria Labour Congress chairman Hameed Ademola-Benco and said the initiative could also encourage price competition among traders. The government did not announce a launch date, funding allocation or detailed eligibility arrangements.
He also promised additional mass transit buses to reduce commuting pressures on workers and other residents, while assuring labour leaders that concerns about leave allowances and the Contributory Pension Scheme were receiving attention.
On education, the governor said his administration had constructed or renovated about 1,600 classrooms, recruited hundreds of teachers and undertaken reforms aimed at improving public schools. These performance figures were supplied by the administration.
Labour representatives, including the state leaders of the NLC, Trade Union Congress and Nigeria Union of Teachers, welcomed aspects of the government’s record but sought pension reforms, a dedicated Ministry of Labour Affairs and increased support for tertiary institutions.
The labour leaders also declared support for APC candidates in the 2027 elections. Their endorsement was separate from the policy requests discussed at the meeting.
