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FG Invites Private Sector to Partner SON on Testing Centres

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Federal government has called on the organised private sector to partner with the Standards organization of Nigeria (SON) in the setting up accredited testing laboratories across the country.

Anyim Pius Anyim, secretary to the Government of the Federation, who stated this at ground-breaking ceremony of SON’s ultra modern laboratory complex at Ogba in Lagos, stated that the enormous responsibility of implementing the Federal Government’s policies to curb the worrisome infl ux and distribution of substandard products has been placed on SON.

“All these activities rely to a large extent on results of relevant tests and analysis from well equipped and accredited laboratories. I therefore seize this opportunity to call on stakeholders and other development partners particularly the organised private sector to continue to support and collaborate with SON for the greater benefi t of the Nigerian consumers,” he said.

Anyim who was represented by Dr. Jamila Shuara, permanent secretary, stated that the provision of better equipped laboratories for SON was part of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, to encourage foreign direct investments, SME growth as well as industrial cluster sectors to strengthen the purchasing capacity of the average Nigerian consumer.

Underscoring the enormous capital outlay for the implementation of the unique project and assured government support, the SGF stated that it was pertinent that SON and the federal ministry of industry, trade and investment continue to explore public-private-partnerships to upscale infrastructural development.

Dr. Joseph Odumodu, director general of SON, stated that the completion of the project comprising of facilities for testing 22 various activities and the training of its staff will increase the agency’s effi ciency in delivering its mandate to the Nigerian public which is primarily to rid the country of substandard products.

“There is no internationally accredited laboratory in the country and in the sub-region presently but with this edifi ce, the name of Nigeria will be written among those countries with accredited laboratories,” he enthused.

He noted that setting of accredited laboratories would ensure self-sustainability, in that without the help of government in the next 5-10 years, the agency could afford to train its staff and keep the laboratories running very well.

He added that the SON will continue to ensure products’ traceability through its e-product registration initiative and that full enforcement will commence from month of October, warning that any product found wanting will be immediately removed from the market.

 Abubakar Mustapha, chairman, governing council of SON, noted that the agency requires stable funding to enable it really work. He also pledged the unfl inching support of the council to the DG’s campaign of zero tolerance to sub-standard products and the recent e-product registration exercise.

Adeyemi Foluonsho, a representative of the manufacturers association of Nigeria (MAN) congratulated SON on the laudable initiative and pledged manufacturers’ total support and cooperation in complying with the new e-products registration exercise.

The group managing director of Wempco Nigeria limited, Lewis Tung, noted that the development was good for the country’s image as it would send a strong signal to other countries that products bearing made-in-Nigeria were up to international standards.


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Students Loans’ Beneficiaries to Start Repayment 2 Years after Graduation-  NELFUND:

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Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has said that students in tertiary institutions and approved vocational centres would start repayment of the loan two years after graduation.

Students Loans’ Beneficiaries to Start Repayment 2 Years after Graduation-  NELFUND:

However, NELFUND management specifically stated that the repayment of the loan would commence if the students secured a job or went into business.

Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, managing director, NELFUND, said the Act specify a moratorium of two years after graduation for the students to begin repayment of the loan.

Sawyerr said if the students start work, his employer would be expected to remit 10 percent into NELFUND dedicated account.

He added: “The loan does not have a specified repayment tenure. It makes it easy for students to apply for the loan. NELFUND would pay according to the documents provided by the institutions. We cannot put tenure on the loan; some will die, drop out, ‘Japa’ or refuse to pay. While those who went into business would pay into same account.

“It is a revolving a loan. We will not put students under pressure to get the loan and we are not going to state a tenure because it is not a commercial loan.’’

According to him, the loan is meant for students in public universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and vocational institutes, who apply via NELFUND portal and are expected to present their JAMB admission letter, NIN and BVN.

He explained that non-students would not have access to the loan and that NELFUND has put the necessary machinery in place to ensure that beneficiaries can be reached when the need arises.

His words: “We are using technology to run the new system. The process of application is online through our dedicated portal and we are limiting human contact as much as possible. Once you have a Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN), which are parts of the requirements, we will have access to your data and all your accounts. This will also help us to know if you are qualified or not,” Sawyerr stated.

The MD disclosed that students already in institution are eligible to apply for the loan at any level of their study and must be at the beginning of each academic session.

He noted that such students would have to provide their admission and matriculation details in addition to BVN and NIN.

Sawyerr added that about 1.2 million Nigerian students in tertiary institutions and government-recognized vocational centres would be among the first batch of beneficiaries and that the figure would increase as time goes on.

The NELFUND boss disclosed that the scheme would be funded from one per cent of the total annual revenue by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which would amount to N194 billion if the agency meets its projection.

Sawyerr observed that the loan would be paid in two segments, the first, being the school fees, which would be paid directly to the institutions while stipend would be paid into students’ account for their day-to-day upkeep.

He added that the amount individual students would access varies because of the course of study, school fees and geographical location of the institutions.

“You don’t start paying back the loan until two years after your National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme and you have secured a job or business. A beneficiary can defer repayment if he has not secured a job, but if after due diligence, he/she defaulted, then the student becomes a criminal and we will work with government agency that can help us get the money back, for example, EFCC, ICPC,” Sawyerr stated.


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GPA Raises Alarm, Says Malaria Vaccine Can Cause Meningitis

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Global Prolife Alliance (GPA), global health organization, has told the National Assembly that the intended malaria vaccine currently proposed by Bill Gates, American billionaire, for Nigeria can trigger meningitis in the populace.

GPA Raises Alarm, Says Malaria Vaccine Can Cause Meningitis

Dr. Philip Njemanze, chairman of GPA, gave the warning in a statement released to newsmen in Owerri, the Imo state capital.

Njemanze, known for being pro-health in the Catholic church, charged the national assembly not to be in a hurry to succumb to the pressure of the bill currently before the house.

He said the vaccine may trigger the deaths of millions of Nigerian children prone to cerebral meningitis, especially in the northern part of the country.

Part of the letter read “Among the side effects is a tenfold increase in cerebral meningitis. Nigeria is endemic for cerebral meningitis. A tenfold increase could cause the deaths of millions of children, especially in northern Nigeria.

“Please intervene and call for a public hearing, for an open public discussion on the pros and cons with expert opinions from both sides. This will help the Nigerian people to be better informed about granting or withholding consent for the vaccination.

“Your intervention could save millions of lives, especially in northern Nigeria, where meningitis is most endemic, particularly at this time of serious insecurity,” Njemanze warned.

 

 


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NERC Cedes Regulatory Oversight of Enugu Electricity Market to State Government Agency

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The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ceded the regulatory oversight of the Enugu electricity market to the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC), which is owned by the state government with effect from May 1, 2024.

This is the first-ever transfer of regulatory powers from the NERC to a state government electricity regulator.

“On completion of the Transfers under subsections (2) and (3), whichever occurs later in time, the Commission shall have no further regulatory responsibility whatsoever for electricity market activities carried on entirely within the State to which regulatory responsibility has been transferred and for which the Additional Successor Company has been incorporated and conferred with assets, liabilities, employees, rights and obligations,” NERC said in a statement signed by Sanusi Garba and Dafe Akpeneye.


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