NLC Cautions SON Over Regulatory Cement Policy

The leadership of Nige
ria Labour Congress (NLC) has cautioned the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) not to impose severe burdens on Nigerians by their ongoing campaign against cement manufacturers.
In a statement issued by NLC and signed by its National President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and obtained by The Tide from NLC Port Harcourt office said such policy by SON portends great danger to the nation’s fragile economy.
Omar said the orchestrated campaign by the SON over incidents of building collapse in different parts of the country occur simply because the quality of cement currently in use in the country is not the 42.5 type.
The NLC described the campaign as a ruse and a violation of all principles and logic of standardisation in relation with public interest.
Omar said government throughout the whole world exist in the interest of the public, stressing that it would be wrong for any agency of government to be promoting policies that are obviously destructive to the economy and particularly harmful to the government’s determination to create jobs while sustaining existing ones.
NLC said the cement industry as a major employer of labour must be protected to benefit the employees and the nation’s economy.
The congress said closure of several industries and factories in the country has risen from infrastructural damage.
He urged the government not to give in to pressure as to allow manipulations that will ultimately rubbish its attempts at reviving the economy and reducing unemployment and its attendant societal burden.
The NLC said the country is already battling with too many social crisis, adding that it would be wrong to accept new policies that will create bigger crises, stressing that building collapses in Nigeria have nothing to do with the 32.5 type of cement.
The congress said 32.5 type of cement have been in use in the country for over 70 years in buding roads, houses and other private and public facilities that are still standing strong without collapse in the country.
The statement added that the federal government should avoid manipulation that would eventually harm the nation’s collective interests and aspirations.
The congress said the acceptance of SON directive by cement manufacturers would certainly shut down the existing cement firms as well as lots of construction companies in the country.
NLC said there are over 27 types of cement globally in use for different purpose and none has been proved to be less in quality to the other for the same use.
Omar said there are 12.5, 22.5, 32.5, 42.5, 52.5 types of cement, oil well cement, white cement among other serving different purposes across the world with tested qualities and environment compliance.
He declared that “in any case, even if we must change why not the 52.5 type” Stressing that if change must occur it should not be a sudden change but a gradual process that would not lead to closure of these cement companies or sack of million of workers.
He said NLC would not tolerate any hardship unleashed on the productive manufacturing sector as SON proposed policy portends.

Philip Okparaji/Marie Obasi