ABUJA-Dr John Akanya, the Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), said that enforcement of standards without legal backing would not be effective.
Akanya made the assertion in Abuja at the training of Magistrates on Standards, organised by SON.
“Enforcing standards without the laws cannot be standards and we need to train the Magistrates on the legal aspects of standards,’’ he said.
He decried the way things were brought into the country without legal backing by traders, saying that this had made enforcement difficult.
“We need the lawyers to put things together and when they are around we will have no problems in enforcing these standards,’’ he said.
Akanya noted that government had been trying to alleviate poverty in the country but “the unscrupulous traders are trying to reap all of us off.’’
He commended the FCT Judiciary for always responding to issues of standards by helping to prosecute offenders.
“They also have the same feelings that Nigeria should not be bombarded with sub-standard products and they have been very helpful in that respect,’’ he said.
Justice Benedict Kanyip, the Presiding Judge, National Industrial Court, Lagos Division, noted that magistrates and judges needed to be trained for specialisation.
He noted that specialisation, especially on standards would ensure thoroughness and achieve improved performance on their duties of adjudicating.
“The specialised court system is consistent with Nigeria’s jurisprudence court system and should be encouraged.
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