By Uzor Odigbo
The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) plans aggressive marketing of its key service offerings such as product certification
Others are local and international accredited of laboratory services, internationally recognised management systems training services, internationally accredited management systems certification services among others
The Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mallam Farouk Salim made this known on Tuesday at a one-day capacity development workshop organized by SON for the media in Lagos.
Mallam Farouk disclosed that in his last ten months in office, he has hired consultants to evaluate d agency’s structure, organized retreats for staff before embarking on the implementation of his agenda for the organization.
Farouk added that the Organization has interacted extensively with the different categories of stakeholders on how to collectively take SON to the next level for the overall good of the Nigerian economy and the welfare of its people.
According to the DG ”As part of efforts in this regard, an independent committee of distinguished Nigerians were charged with the responsibility of taking a critical look at our structure, processes, practices and service offerings as well as public perception.
“This was in order to help us develop a template to address operational, service delivery and staff welfare challenges. to entrench equity and fairness as well as provide greater opportunities for staff to better contribute to the attainment of organisational goals. We have since been implementing many of the recommendations of that committee.
“We are committed to improving on our communication with stakeholders at all levels to get greater buy-in into our programmes and activities that are targeted at customer satisfaction, consumer protection and welfare as well as the positive growth of the nation’s economy.
” We are providing a more conducive atmosphere for our staff to deliver on the mandate of SON and collaborate more with our different stakeholders to improve on the delivery of the dividends of democracy to the Nigerian people,” Salim said
He however added that the Organization is already working with the National Assembly to strengthen its quality infrastructure such as equipping regional laboratories to bring our services nearer to the stakeholders and make greater contributions to the diversification of the nation’s economy.
The Organization boss also disclosed that the capacity of the National Metrology Institute is already being enhanced with the acquisition of new equipment for calibration activities in diverse areas of measurement like flow, volume, among others.
Talking on curbing the influx and distribution of substandard and fake products, Salim said, “the issue of curbing the influx and distribution of substandard and life-threatening products is being approached from many dimensions. Some of our staff have undertaken training programmes with the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS) on the operations of the NICIS ii.
We are also in discussion for full integration into the process for operational access and control of SON regulated imports.
“When fully achieved, that will assist us to a very large extent in preventing substandard products from entry into Nigeria without any delay at the ports. This is because we have invested in facilities near the Apapa, Tin Can and Onne ports where quality verification of suspected substandard products can be carried out.
” We have already initiated engagements with key importers across the country to flush out the bad eggs amongst them and promote self-regulation in our collective interest. SON state offices nationwide have been directed to intensify our market survey activities to monitor the performance of locally certified and imported products in the market place,” he quipped.