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The lack of regulation of conformity assessment activities over the years has adversely affected industries, according to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.
This was stated by SON’s Director-General, Mallam Farouk Salim, at the National Register for Conformity Assessment Practitioners stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos on Thursday.
He said weak regulations were largely caused by poor protection of genuine practitioners from the negative impacts of unhealthy competition from quacks; poor visibility and recognition of genuine and competent practitioners capable of attracting patronage and partnerships for enhanced trade relationships; poor value for money by unsuspecting customers who patronise quacks, etc.
Salim noted that the engagement was guided by the strategic collaboration that SON shared with the various organisations over time, especially with the SON Management Systems Certification and Training Services departments with the organisation’s interface through their customers.
He added that the stakeholders’ engagement was in view of the importance of the authenticity and traceability of products and services, adjudged to have met the requirements of relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards and other approved specifications.
According to him, committee members to drive the process were drawn from critical sectors of the economy like the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture, amongst others and had been adequately trained for the task.
He said, “This registration process will, no doubt, strengthen the mutual responsibility that we share as partners in the task of nation-building and position your businesses for better visibility and recognition.
“I hope this call to contribute to nation-building will be given the deserved attention and urgency, in order to strengthen the operational efficiency of the national quality infrastructure through implementation of proper controls and monitoring structures for conformity assessment practice in Nigeria.”
A chief consultant to Top 3 concepts Nig Ltd, Bode Okeh, said the engagement exercise would ensure the weeding out of incompetent management systems practitioners.
