Reps To Give SON Legislative Backing Against Substandard Products

The House of Representatives has promised to give the
Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) the necessary legislative backing to
tackle the problem of fake and substandard products in the country

Rep. Mohammed Ogoshi, the Chairman House Committee on
Industries, gave the assurance in Abuja when he led the members of the
committee on an oversight function to the agency.

Ogoshi, who commended SON for the crusade against fake,
substandard products and services in the country said: “we are going to give
you every support you need to deliver your mandate’’.

He, however, charged the organisation to embark on effective
education to enable the consumers to have more understanding on the implication
of purchasing substandard products.

The chairman said if the consumers were able to identify
substandard products and know the danger inherent in its usage, such a person
would be saved from being a victim.

Mr Joseph Odumodu, the SON’s Director-General, had earlier
solicited for a legal framework to enable the organisation to carry out
effective enforcement.

Odumodu expressed regrets that lack of strong legal
structure had not allowed the agency to prosecute the manufacturers, importers
or distributors of fake and substandard products in the country.

The director-general acknowledged President Goodluck
Jonathan interest in improving the economy through the checking of substandard
products.

He also said the SON would achieve better results with more
funding, pointing out that it needed N10 billion for the first phase of modern
laboratory facilities to fast-track its operation.