The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SON

  • SON develops standards for plastics recycling

    Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and stakeholders in the food industry have developed a standard for the production of plastics. This will help conserve billions of naira spent on the importation of plastics annually.

    According to SON, the standards will improve production processes of plastics, ensure safety and quality.

    This will provide opportunities for employment rather than spending hard-earned funds on importation.

    SON said the need to develop the standard came on the heels of a recent coordination by the Federal Ministry of Environment to develop a national policy for the lifecycle of plastics.

    Nigeria is the third largest importer of plastics in primary forms after Egypt, with just 30 per cent capacity to produce locally, while the remaining 70 per cent is imported.

    SON Director-General  Osita Aboloma, at a technical committee meeting on polymer and related products, said there had been demand for standard for recycled plastics.

    He stressed that for the national policy to gain ground, it must be backed by standards.

    “So, this meeting would not have come at a better time and also with the rising concerns over the use of recycled pet bottles in the food industry,” Aboloma said.

    Represented by the Director, Standards Development, SON, Chinyere Egwuonwu, Aboloma said it would also give consumers and producers the confidence that the products and services they are developing or using are safe and reliable while also keeping the environmental safe.

  • Two jailed for faking SON documents

    A magistrate Court in Oshogbo, Osun State capital has sentenced two men to six months imprisonment without an option of fine for presenting forged laboratory test results and a forged bank teller for the certification of table water product. The men are Mr. Shodipo Olujimi and Gold Channel International.

    Delivering judgement in the case filed by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) against the duo, Chief Magistrate Modele.A. Awodele said the first defendant was convicted to six months imprisonment without option of fine while the second defendant, Gold Channels International (aka Genesis Pure Water was banned from producing for the period of six months.

    “That you Shodipo Olujimi ‘M’ and Gold Channels International both of Km 2 Ede Road Ile Ife on or about the 1st day of July 2014 at Osogbo, within the jurisdiction of this court, did commit felony to wit: forge laboratory test results (analysis/report) allegedly issued by PAM BEE Consult on laboratory test purportedly conducted on Genesis Table Water (Sachet), produced by you, which results you knew to be fake and presented same to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, with intent that it will be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 467 of the Criminal Law 34 Vol. II, Laws of Osun State 2003.

    “That you Shodipo Olujimi ‘M’ and Gold Channels International both of Km 2 Ede Road Ile Ife on or about the 1st day of July 2014 at Osogbo, within the jurisdiction of this court, did forge and present to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, a forged Zenith Bank Teller No. 1557310 which you knew to be fake with intent that it will be acted upon as genuine for the payment twenty five thousand Naira (N25, 000.00) penalty for your company’s failure to submit genuine laboratory test reports on your pure water product, and you received Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s cash payment receipt No. 211681 in the said amount and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 467 of the Criminal Law 34 Vol. II, Laws of Osun State 2003.

    Commenting on the judgement, SON prosecuting Counsel Adeleke Olofindare stated “Though the wheel of justice might turn slowly, it surely has caught up with the convicts. The Director General of SON Osita Aboloma Esq. has severally reiterated the organisation’s commitment to combating standards infractions in whatever form. This judgement is a clear message to all those involved in the production, importation and distribution of substandard, injurious and life-endangering products that the law will eventually catch up with them.”

     

     

  • Protest in SON over corruption, poor welfare, others

    •’Protesters disrespected ministry’s directive’

    There was a protest yesterday in the Abuja office of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on allegation of corruption, poor welfare and irregular promotion, among other things.

    The protest, which was organised by the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) grounded activities at the Federal Government agency.

    The Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of AUPCTRE, Comrade Aliyu Maradun, told reporters that SON’s Director General Osita Aboloma had allegedly been involved in multiple contract awards and contract splitting.

    “We are aware of people who were employed here and under six months, they were promoted more than five times. And there are people here who have spent 20 years stagnated.

    “Some people are on secondment and have refused to go, at the detriment of the people here who are supposed to occupy their positions,” he said.

    Aliyu demanded the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) into the operations of the organisation, an improved workers’ welfare and the implementation of the directive of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on voluntarism.

    But the President of the SON branch of the Senior Staff Association of the Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Ayodele Folayan, dismissed the allegations of AUPCTRE.

    He described the protest as “uncalled for”. Folayan said there were efforts to resolve issues on workers’ welfare, adding that the protesters should return to the negotiating table for a solution.

    SON spokesman Bola Fashina said the protesters disrespected the directive of the Ministry of Labour and Employment on voluntarism and not SON.

    On promotion arrears, he said, budgetary allocation had been made while the amount provided had been approved in this year’s budget by the National Assembly.

    In his response to AUPCTRE allegations, Fashina said: “The Federal Ministry of Labour’s directive was to clarify jurisdictional scope of the two unions. SSASCGOC, for senior workers and AUCPTRE for junior workers SON obeyed the ministry.

    “SON is currently paying 20 per cent of workers’ total emoluments as conditions of service. A committee is already in place to harmonise the two versions presented to this management and the two unions have been invited to nominate representatives onto the committee.

    “There are two approved versions – 2012 and 2016. SON cannot choose one over the other. We need to review or harmonise with the union representatives before recommending to management.

    “No worker has been coerced or intimidated. Management only drew attention of staff to the letter from the Federal Ministry of Labour in a Circular

    “There was no illegal promotion; rather, there were advancement of workers to reflect qualification and requisite experience of the workers. This is normal in public service. A graduate of between 15 and 20 years wrongly offered appointment on CONRAISS 8 and advanced to CONRAISS 12 is an example.

    “The arrears of salary for workers employed in 2016 were 16 months. The Director General intervened and got the IPPIS and Office of the Accountant General to pay. The remaining two months will be paid by same source.

    “The workers were employed before the appointment of the present DG. The arrears were reported to the relevant authorities. It is awaiting payment by IPPIS anytime from now.

    “Secondment is an acceptable and legal practice in public service provided for in the Public Service Rules (PSR). The secondment to SON is within the PSR. None of the seconded staff is a non-Nigerian.

     

     

  • SON to check entry of substandard goods in Southsouth

    The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has vowed to check the influx of fake and substandard goods such as building materials in the Southsouth region of the country.  The agency said the current upbeat activities in the seizure of these substandard goods are as a result of the constant sensitisation campaign backed by the SON Act No. 14, 2015. Goods worth billions of naira have been seized so far. There were been reported cases of bursting of large warehouses with fake and substandard re-bagged cement, iron rods, tyres, fake  cables imported from China, substandard electrical appliances, keys, locks and doors.

    SON Director-General, Osita Aboloma, who spoke at a sensitisation forum in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said the seizure and ongoing prosecutions are clear signs that the organisation is reaping the immense benefits from the SON Act as observed when the powers and sanctions were limited, thereby making it inadequate to confront the menace of substandard products in the country. He lamented that these life threatening products could cause large destruction of life and properties if not checked.

    He advised manufacturers to always certify their products so as to meet the required standards, urging all interested parties to stay clear of dealing with substandard products or risk sanction, prosecution or jail terms as a result of their illicit actions.

    SON Regional Coordinator, South south, Saleh Babaji, who represented Aboloma said the Act clearly stipulates that all products manufactured in Nigeria must be certified to the Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS) through the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP), while imported products must comply with SON Offshore Conformity Assessment programme (SONCAP) along with other certification and registration schemes as prescribed.

    On the reason for the nationwide sensitisation and awareness, he responded that it is to ensure that Nigerians are informed about standardisation and seek cooperation with stakeholders in ensuring that the Act enhances  quality assurance in their processes to boost economic diversification.

  • SON: ‘Why agric exports are rejected’

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) yesterday listed transportation, storage facilities, packaging and warehouse conditions as some of the challenges that lead to the rejection of the country’s agricultural exports to other countries.

    It therefore stressed the need for stakeholders in agricultural produce in the country to maintain quality and standard of products meant for export.

    Its Director-General, Osita Aboloma who spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital during the Northcentral regional stakeholders workshop, said there’s need to also imbibe best partices.

    Represented by the  Northcentral Regional Coordinator of the agency, Charles Nwagbara, the DG said it is not in the country that agricultural export produce did not meet standard.

    He added that distance, for example, from Nigeria to Europe could affect quality and standard of agric product when it gets to foreign country.

    Aboloma said: “Standard is part of the security apparatus for the country. You use it to control and defend your populace from danger and risks products coming into your country. One per cent leakage can cause a chain of negative effect on the consumers and entire populace. That’s why some countries reject our products  especially when their regulations find the products faulty due to handling and transportation.

    “If you have a quality product in Kwara State, before you move it for export using sea or air transportation, storage facility, warehouse or lack of knowledge on recommended pesticide or herbicide and its limit, or duration to use them, can make our products get rejected. And every country has that first principle or policy to protect its citizens. There’s no compromise about that.

    “It is not in Nigeria here that products do not meet standard, but the distance from here, for example, to Europe using cargo, not to talk of ship, could affect quality and standard of agric product.

    “Quality is all encompassing, quality is about standard. The quality in the country when preparing for export may not be same at point of departure from the country, talking about packaging and transportation challenges,” he said.

    Earlier, the director of TNP, a consultant for the programme, Mr. Toyese Oyekunle, said the workshop was organised to impart knowledge on farmers in order to make Nigeria products meet international standards and regulatory requirement.

    “SON has the mandate to prepare Nigeria exporters for competition because it’s a world market. It entails a lot of competition. There’s need to meet and maintain international standard for our products for acceptance and patronage,” he said.

  • SON, experts hold workshop

    THE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has organised a Northeast Zonal Sensitisation workshop in Bauchi State for professionals and other stakeholders on the challenges of building collapse.

    According to SON, the workshop brought together architects, builders, surveyors and other professionals in the building industry.

    SON’s Director-General Osita Aboloma said the organisation was worried by the threat posed by building collapse, no thanks to quacks and non-compliance to building rules.

    Aboloma, represented by the Gombe State SON Coordinator, Alhaji Umaru Yakubu, said the SON was established in 1971 to ensure adherence to standards, quality assurance, testing and metrology for products and services.

  • SON seizes N300b fake products

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) yesterday said it seized fake and substandard products worth over N300 billion within the last one year.

    Its Director-General, Osita Aboloma said top on the list of seizures were adulterated lubricants, electric cables and cylinders.

    He spoke at a stakeholders’ forum on SON Act 2015 in Lagos.

    Aboloma said the Act was a revolutionary document which the agency was deploying towards ridding the country of unwholesome products.

    “The big hauls of seizures which the agency made recently are a testimonial that we mean business by harnessing to the fullest the enormous powers which the Act has accorded us.

    “Within the last few months, we have confiscated fake and substandard products worth over N300 billion across the country.

    “We have since embarked on arraignment and trial at various courts of some of the suspects linked with the impounded goods.  We are not resting on our oars,” he said.

  • SON stresses importance of accurate measurement

    Standards organisation of Nigeria (SON) Director-General (DG), Mr Osita Aboloma, has warned manufacturers of products that have direct impact on safety and health of consumers against sharp practices to avoid disasters.

    Aboloma gave the warning in Ado Ekiti at a one-day sensitisation programme on the “Importance of Metrology for Quality Assurance for stakeholders in the Southwest”.

    He said the agency was worried at the increasing inconsistency in the measures and units used in evaluating products and services in the country.

    He said: “SON is deeply alarmed at this practice, which has significantly reduced economic growth and integrity of services in the country.”

    He described metrology as a science of measurement, which must not be ignored during any production process. According to him, measurement is an important part of everyday lives; the iron rod maker, the fuel dealer, the agro-produce farmer, the exporter, the gas distributor, the engineer on site, among others. He advised  all to ensure that measurement of products and services are done accurately if they will deliver quality and value to the customers.

    The D-G, who was represented by SON Southwest Regional Co-ordinator, Mrs Tosan Akosile, maintained that measurement has always been needed to facilitate trade. Business and commercial processes cannot be regarded to be fair and honest when the weights and measures are inappropriate.

    In his paper: “Importance of Metrology in Quality Assurance”, Mr Olalekan Omoniyi, said  many of the nation’s products meant for export had often been rejected, largely because of inaccurate measurement, arising from lack of functional quality control policy.

    He said metrology and measurement should work together  to deliver quality service in so much that consumers do not get cheated or harmed.

  • Building collapse: SON to regulate building materials

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has begun moves to check incessant buildings collapse  across the country by regulating weights and measurements of building materials.

    Its Director-General, Osita Aboloma, stated this at a workshop in Abuja on the importance of metrology for quality assurance of products, services and industrial development.

    He said some buildings collapsed because the measurements and weights of building materials used for it were not up to standard.

    According to him, when you have the wrong measurement, things would go wrong. He explained that sometimes builders under-use rods or blocks. ‘’But when these are accurate, you are sure of what you are doing,” he said.

    Read also: Fire razes building in Kano

    Aboloma, who was represented by SON’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Coordinator, Mr. Gambo Dimka, said architects, engineers and related professionals in the built environment, must ensure that the measurements given were what they used.

    “If the architect says you should use four-by-five windows, don’t go to a quack who will construct less than what the architect specified,” he advised.

    “The SON Act No.14 of 2015 covers all aspects of metrology to ensure the protection of business, safety, wealth and every other aspect of Nigerians’ lives,” he said.

  • SON: locally made products must conform with best practice

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)  is establishing a quality framework to ensure that made-in-Nigeria products conform with global best practices.

    To achieve this, it will establish a National Quality Infrastructural Framework that will cover activities in standardisation, accreditation, certification and metrology.

    Its Director-General, Osita Aboloma disclosed this at a workshop on the importance of metrology for quality assurance of products, service and industrial development in the Northcentral.

    “The move is for products and services coming out of Nigeria to be accepted worldwide,” Aboloma said, adding  that the success of most manufactured products is critically dependant on how well they are made, a requirement in which measurement plays a key role.

    “For the products and services coming out of Nigeria to be acceptable worldwide, the Federal Government, in collaboration with international partners, is establishing a National Quality Infrastructure Framework.

    “This infrastructure covers all activities in standardisation, accreditation, certification and metrology, which are tools to ensure that Nigeria made products and services are in conformity with the world best practice,” he said.

     

    He said telecoms, transport and navigation are highly dependent on the most accurate frequency and time services, stressing that human health and safety also depend on reliable measurements in medical diagnosis and therapy.

    Aboloma said: “Food and agriculture are closely regulated in terms of the use of pesticides and food additives and it is essential to have reliable means of measuring their presence in the human food chain. Protection of the environment and large-scale studies related to global climate change depend critically on accurate measurements, often extending over long periods of time. All these call for measurements of the highest accuracy, to reduce to minimal, the cost and issue of rejection of any product from the country.”