Yemisi Izuora
The Galvanised Iron and Steel Manufacturers’ Association, (GISMA), may be forced to lay off about 20,000 workers except the Standard Organization of Nigeria, (SON), become sensitive to their decades of complain over the importation of substandard galvanized roofing sheets into the country.
The GISMA told the Federal Government that if in 30 days’ time if SON and other security agencies failed to stop the menace of substandard roofing sheets in the market, its members may sack 20, 000 workforce.
The Spokesman of GISMA, Mr. Lateef Bello, in a statement issued on Wednesday, advised SON to always compliment the strides of President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against corruption in compliance with the Industrial Roadmap Revolution, (IPR).
He noted that despite the presence of State Coordinators of the agency nationwide, “It is saddening that the nooks and crannies of the country are flooded with substandard roofing sheet products.”
According to him, “We are aware that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, (SON) held a press conference last week and unveiled its successful seizure of substandard aluminium sheets worth over N200 million from various aluminium companies in Uyo.
“SON in its address further confirmed that the minimum thickness of aluminium roofing sheets is 0.4mm. The substandard products with the quality of 0.25mm were however imported into Nigeria at the detriment of unsuspecting members of the public.”
Mr. Bello however condemned SON over its attempt to divert the attention of Nigerians away from its responsibility of providing holistic atmosphere for Steel and Iron Manufacturers stressing that Aluminium roofing sheet is a smaller fraction of the total market. SON has been silent about the illegalities going on in the endemic smuggling of galvanised plain and coloured roofing sheets in Nigeria.
“While we commend SON for the efforts made in the seizure of the goods, we are categorically requesting that names of perpetrators of such unpatriotic acts should be made public in order to reflect transparency and accountability in their operation. It is our expectation that SON should censor some of its officials suspected to be collaborating with smugglers of substandard products by mounting surveillance and detective operational techniques across its branches nationwide.
“Importation of substandard products is tantamount to waging war against the Federal Government’s policies of discouraging the supply of illicit items capable of causing havoc and short-charging the citizenry.
“Sparing anyone involved in this dastard acts amounts to aiding and abetting corruption and exposing the nation to ill-infrastructural deficit and challenges.
“There is need for the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and SON should investigate if the fine imposed on the offenders is commensurate with the weight of the offence committed. Questions begging for answers: Was the fine imposed in accordance with to the statutory permission or was the fine imposed after the arraignment of culprits before a competent court of law for gross economic sabotage and flagrant contravention of Nigerians laws against substandard products?
“Also, why the imposition of fines on substandard goods which should be confiscated and later to be destroyed?
“We hereby request that SON should not only announce the seizure of the items but rather make arrest and parade the suspects before the general public and prosecute them adequately. Publish their ownership details, business names and contact addresses in the media.
“This will further serve as a deterrence to others who venture into unlawful businesses. This will also break the jinx of ‘cartel’ which exist within the system.”
GISMA however urged the Federal Government to adequately monitor the lonely ports and private jetties and check the influx of substandard products into the country.
He said: “We hereby alert the Federal Government wto within 30 days solve this lingering menace, otherwise, GISMA members will have no other choice than to lay-off 20,000 of their workforce nationwide to embark on the same trade because all their investors, lenders and financial institutions feel that the sector is unprotected.
“The implication of this is that the Industrial Revolution Plans, as well as the Backward Integration Policy respectively, must have failed woefully.”
“This assessment will also assist security agencies in the check against illegal smuggling of dangerous items which has made it difficult to end the ongoing insurgency in some parts of the country.”