The agency added that it had refused to shutdown some companies with the consideration that other legitimate activities are also going on within their premises noting that such action may affect their workforce and result into unemployment.
It would be recalled that allegations of poor conducts was leveled on SON by the Galvanised Iron and Steel Manufacturers Association, (GISMA) and consequently alerted the federal government to within 30 days solve the problem or its members would sack 20, 000 workers nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Spokesperson of the SON, Mr. Bola Fashina, on Friday noted that a Joint Task Force Committee was set up on 14th June 2019 with the inclusion of GISMA’s representatives among other members.
He added that the issue of safeguarding the nation from substandard products is beyond SON stressing that some manufacturers usually escape their scrutiny through other agencies involved in the clearance process.
He further stressed that, “While we are hoping and striving to improve in our performances and be more accountable to the public, we need more information from stakeholders in the business because there are some things that are beyond us.
“We have been receiving complaints most recently and we have also been working on them seriously. What we need is exchange of information. GISMA is a sectoral arm of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (MAN) and we have been working together towards ensuring that we free Nigeria from influx of substandard products.
“Where we apprehend local manufacturer importing substandard goods into the country, we sieze such goods, confisticate and destroy them because we have a standard we are working with in Nigeria. We shall continue to make sure that we get all the substandard products of the street by ensuring compliance with the support of all concerned stakeholders.”
The Standard Organisation of Nigeria, (SON), has disclosed that the agency is prosecuting no fewer than 20 companies in connection with substandard products in court adding that many offenders have been convicted in the recent time.
