EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCES OF THE STANDARD ORGANIZATION OF NIGERIA (SON) IN ANAMBRA STATE

ABSTRACT

This study is basically concerned with the evaluation of the performances of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) with reference to Anambra State.  The  effort  made  in  this  direction  in  the  past  was  given  proper attention. Moving ahead, the researcher in his efforts aimed at carrying out a proper research made use of various methods/instruments or data sourcing and analysis, that comprised of primary and secondary sources of data which included face to face discussion, oral interviews, questionnaire and the use of relevant textbooks, magazine, journals, libraries, internet, etc. the research was conducted with a known total population of two million seven hundred and fifty thousand, and a determine sample size of four hundred relevant people. Equally, some research questions were put forward to direct investigation in conducting the research, while tables together with percentage were employed to provide comprehensive data presentation ad analysis. The findings from the study revealed among other things that the rate at which substandard products are imported into the country is very high.

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Man is always struggling to survive in his given environment. He is always conscious of making his life worth living on this planet earth. At every point in time, he is trying to produce those things that would make his life better. Not only is he producing to make his life better but also to better the lives of his co-habitators here on earth.

Elementary economics teaches us that human wants are insatiable. In effect, human nature is highly demanding of the good things of life. Unfortunately the means to satisfy these  wants  are very  limited, limited in the  area  of money, manpower and materials  to produce  and buy  these need  satisfying wants.  The quest  to take  part in the satisfaction of these wants  and  take part in  reaping the gains thereof, has resulted into mass production of goods and  services.

This mass production of goods and services in most cases has tended to neglect certain attributes or qualities of the products as desired by the consumer. The scarcity of most of these goods especially in the  third world countries of which Nigeria is one, has therefore left the consumer at the mercy of the producers. He is left with no other option than in many cases to patronize the sellers of these unwholesome and sub-standard products. The use  and consumption of such sub–standard products have led  to so many negative  consequences  on the part of the  consumers  including collapse of

building, house burning owning  to the use  of defective electrical devices and in some extreme cases death.

In the face of increasing awareness and technological breakthroughs, the world has become a global village, and the consumer can no longer afford to be toyed with. His rights have got to be protected both by self and the government of the day. Nigeria, quite aware of these development rose to “take the bull by the horn” by establishing many agencies whose aims are the protection of the consumers’ rights in the market place. One of these agencies is the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) which came into existence via decree N0. 56 of 1971 and amended decree N0. 18 of 1990. The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) is charged with the responsibility of developing standards for commodities and products (goods and  services  for  industries)  and  to  monitor  the  enforcement  of  such standards.

It also implements the Federal Government’s Policies on standardization and  quality  assurance  for  all  manufactured  goods,  local and/or imported as well as semi-processed goods throughout the country.

These tasks are what the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) which has its zonal office at the Independence Layout, Enugu,  was set up to achieve.  The  extent  to  which  it  has  gone  into  achieving these  onerous tasks/goals or otherwise is the concern of this researcher.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In Nigeria, there are conscious efforts on the part of the government to encourage manufacturers to produce goods at affordable costs to the consumer. This had made people to venture into this area (manufacturing) as well as importation of such other goods that cannot be manufactured locally.

The resultant effect of these have been and its still, influx into the market of many sub-standard goods which on consumption or use are very detrimental to the health of the consumers.

This trend has caused a lot of concern to the government and in order to check this, it has set up Consumer Protection Agencies of which the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) is one of them.

However, in spite of the existence of this Agency Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), cases of adulterated good have persisted. The researcher, who has been following this worrisome trend all these years, has therefore set out in this research to appraise the activities of the agency in order to ascertain why these problems have persisted.

The study would help to find out whether SON has lived up to its responsibilities of protecting the consumer thereby justifying its relevance to the average consumer.

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The researcher intends to appraise the activities of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) with a view of finding out its relevance to the consumer in Anambra State as well as the economy as a whole.

Specifically, the aims of the researcher in the study are:

1.  To find out the level of awareness of the existence of the Standard

Organization of Nigeria (SON).

2.  To find whether all the regulated materials imported into the country meet up with the prescribed standard of safety, quality and efficacy.

3.  To find out whether dumping of fake and sub-standard products are being prevented.

4.  To find out whether the activities of the Agency is being hampered by finance and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTION

The following research questions were put forward for the study.

a.     To what extend is the level of awareness concerning the existence of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON)?

b.    Do all the regulated materials imported into the country meet up with the prescribed standards of safety, quality and efficacy?

c.     Is the dumping of fake and sub-standard products being prevented?

d.    Does finance and bureaucratic bottleneck hamper the activities of

Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON).

1.5    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of this study cannot be over-emphasized. It would be of immense benefits to the consumer, student manufacturer and of course, the Government.

To the consumer, the study would lead to increased awareness of the existence, activities and benefits of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON). Knowledge of these would afford him the opportunity of asserting his rights whenever he discovers that he is being unduly exploited by the producer/seller. Besides, it would lead to the provision of standard goods and services, leading to a healthy nation and as they say, a wealthy nation, if the recommendation are taken and implemented.

To the manufacturer, it will make for the appreciation of the gains of keeping to the rules for the game. He would be able to understand that the survival of his business depends on the satisfaction of consumer.

1.6    SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Due to the nature of the study, certain methods and designs were used. The study was based on the three senatorial districts of Anambra State. The zoning system was so adopted to make for relatively reliable and accurate overall result.

Owing to time and financial constrains, it was not possible to cover the number of places as was originally intended.

Reasonable efforts were made to obtain information from the right people from relevant organizations and the general public.

Since the information came from the three senatorial zones of Anambra State, it was believed to be reliable and served the purpose of this study satisfactorily.

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