SENATE PASSES TWO CONSOLIDATED SON BILLS FOR SECOND READING

SENATE PASSES TWO CONSOLIDATED SON BILLS FOR SECOND READING The Senate on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 passed for second reading two consolidated bills. The bills passed are: 1) A Bill for an Act to Repeal and Re-enact the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) Act CAP S9 LFN 2004 for the purpose of providing additional functions for the organization, increase penalty for violation; and for other related matters incidental thereto (H.B.153), sponsored by the Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba. 2) A Bill for an Act to Repeal and Re-enact the Standards Organization of Nigeria Act CAP S9 LFN 2004 for the purpose of providing additional functions for the Organization, increase penalty for violation and for other related matters incidental thereto (S.B.394), sponsored by Sen. Nenadi Usman. Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Sen. Nenadi Usman said the legislation is intended to ensure the standardization of products and services, undertake investigation on complains lodged by consumers on poor standard of products, regulate the inflow of substandard goods into the country, enhance the ability of SON in the discharge of its mandate, ensure compulsory assessment scheme of all products produced in the country or imported into the country to ensure conformity with international best practice before such goods get to the consumers and prescribe severe punishment for violators as well as recall products that could be harmful to human health. Other law-makers who contributed in favour of the bills include Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, Sen. Bernabas Gemade, Sen. Ibrahim Gobir, Sen. Chris Ngige and Senate President David Mark. Sen. Mark noted that Standards Organization of Nigeria is truly a very important institution vested very significant functions that need to be reviewed from time to time to check the distribution of substandard products in the country. He added that for Nigeria to be among the international community, it is imperative for the SON to step effort in combating fake and substandard products from reaching the general public and ensure that only products that conform to international best practice are allowed to get to the consumers. The two bills were put to question before the Senators and they affirmed their passage for second reading and were read the second time. The bills have been referred to the Senate Committee on Investment to report back to the Chamber in two weeks. Also, the Senate has adjourned sitting till December 16, 2014 to allow law- makers participate fully in the forthcoming political parties primaries and national conventions billed for 7th to 10th December.