KEMI OMONIYI
The House of Representatives has taken steps to include Ministry of Petroleum Resources in the council of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and to expand functions of the agency to petroleum products.
This followed the passage through second reading of a “Bill for an Act to Amend the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act” at plenary on Tuesday.
The bill is to provide for the inclusion of a representative from the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources in the Standards Council of Nigeria and expand the scope and functions of the organisation to include investigation and quality assurance certification of Petroleum Products.
Sponsored by Sergius Ogun, Edo State and Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson from Lagos, the bill seeks to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of SON, in ensuring quality of products (especially petroleum) and improving the fight against substandard or fake products in the country.
In a lead debate, Ogun said when passed into law, the proposed legislation would not only enhance effectiveness of SON, but strengthen it in fight against substandard products and goods which now spreads across almost all sectors of the Nigerian society.
“One of the primary government agencies saddled with the responsibility of regulating product standard in Nigeria is SON.
“Specifically, the SON is mandated to among other things, prepare standards relating to products, measurements, materials and processes among others, and their promotion at the national, regional and international levels.
“It’s also mandated to provide capacity for local production of quality goods and certify industrial products, to mention a few. The SON Act makes provision for the Standards Council of Nigeria.
“The Council among other functions, is mandated to advise the Federal Government on national policy on standards, standards specifications, quality control and metrology.
“Also, it’s to provide necessary measures for quality control of raw materials and products in conformity with the organisations’ specification.
“Some members of the Council are the Ministries of Rural and Agricultural Development, Defence, Trade and Investment, Finance, Works and Housing, Health; and, Science and Technology,” he stated.
The lawmaker also stated that, despite centrality of the petroleum sector in the Nigerian economy, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources was omitted from the Standards Council of Nigeria membership, hence, the bill amendment.
