From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has assured its readiness and commitment to the programmes and activities that will be targeted in the protection and positive growth of the nation’s economy.
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Organisation, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke made the assurance at the weekend in Abuja while declaring a training workshop organised by his Organisation for Commerce and Industry Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (CICAN).
He recalled that the current rating by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) for its 2024 Half Year Transparency and Efficiency Compliant Report for January 2024 to June 2024, his Organization came second with 78.2%, among twenty (20) Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for transparency in service delivery.
According to him, “This did not come easy as the organisation has provided the enabling tools to upgrade our services to an enviable spot through digitalization.
The staff are also part of the success story as they work tirelessly through challenges to ensure the country does not become a dumping ground for substandard products, as well as supporting local productions.
The Director General of SON who was represented by the Director of Public Relations of the Organisation, Mrs Foluso Bolaji assured that the management and staff of the organisation are committed to improving on their communication with stakeholders at all levels to get greater buy-in into their programmes and activities that will be targeted at their satisfaction, protection, welfare and positive growth of the nation’s economy.
Dr. Ifeanyi observed that before now, their responsibilities and operations have always been confused with those of their sister agencies to the extent that Nigerians criticize them.
He stressed that at this moment: as clearly spelt out, where our mandates stop, other agencies’ duties and responsibilities begin.
He said his organisation is the nation’s standards body, provides standards, regulates, ensures quality and enforces violations within the provisions of the Act that established them.
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of SON urged members of Commerce and Industry Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (CICAN)to take advantage of the training exercise and take a good reading at the law that established the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON Act 2015) one more time and digest their mandate for a better understanding, reportage and separate their mandate from of their sister agencies.
He noted that the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) has been a wonderful ally of his organisation,n and members of CICAN over the years have tremendous support in telling the SON story to their readers, viewers and listeners have greatly impacted his Organisation and the country at large.
“To this end, therefore, my dear ladies and gentlemen of the Press, I call upon you to listen to us well, represent us well and report us well on this journey of standardization that will bring about industrialization and economic development.
“Finally, I can assure you that after this training and enlightenment your views about the organization will rather be in a more positive mode and I hope that you will make SON your first point of call when you find our stories wrongly represented in the course of doing your job.
“Once more, I welcome you and declare this training exercise open to the glory of God,” he concluded.
