Reps to include petroleum ministry in SON council, extend agency’s functions

By Christiana Ekpa 

The House of Representatives, Tuesday took steps to include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in the council of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and expand the 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 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 Standards Organisation of Nigeria to include investigation and quality assurance Certification of Petroleum Products.”

The bill, Sponsored by Sergius Ogun from Edo and Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson from Lagos, seeks to enhance the 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 the 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. 

“I is 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 the national policy on standards, standards specifications, quality control and metrology. 

“I is also mandated to provide necessary measures for quality control of raw materials and products in conformity with the standard specification. 

“Some of the members of the Council, are the following ministries. Namely; Rural and Agricultural Development, Defence, Trade and Investment, Finance, Works and Housing, Health, and Science and Technology,” he stated.

The lawmaker said, despite the centrality of the petroleum sector in the Nigerian economy, the ministry of petroleum resources is/was omitted from the Standards Council of Nigeria membership, hence this amendment bill.