By Dipo Olowookere
The Department of Weight and Measures of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has targeted N5 billion revenue generation for 2018.
This was disclosed during the1st Quarterly Meeting of Legal Metrology officers and inspectors of Weights and Measures held on March 22, 2018.
Director of the Department, Engineer Muhammed Sidi Sada, gave this disclosure while delivering his opening remark at the event.
Mr Sada reiterated commitment of the department to work towards the achievement of the desired goals of the Mr Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on diversification which gave rise to this year’s theme of the 1st Quarterly Meeting of the Weights and Measures professionals: ‘Legal Metrology As a Tool for Economic Diversification and Inclusive Industrial Development.’
The Director highlighted the benefits accruing to the Federal Government and citizens of Nigeria from the performance of this important Department of Legal Meteorology which he said of: “Besides contributing to the building of trust for trade in Nigeria, the performance and functions of the Department cannot be overemphasized.”
Mr Sada said the functions of Legal Metrology Officers and Inspectors include: To reduce disputes and transaction costs during the sales of petroleum products, measurement of gas, electricity , water and the billing of telephone bills.
Other functions are providing level-playing field for Commerce by means of meteorological controls, facilitating effective stock control for businesses, for example, the use of dip tapes for measuring equipment and to facilitate the collection of revenue from the testing of weighing and measuring equipment.
“Given the significant roles played by these officers and their contribution to economic recovery and diversification agenda of the Federal Government, there is need for quarterly assembly of this Department to provide a forum to re-assessing, re-strategizing on performance evaluation and working towards improving on revenue generation mandate of the department,“ the Director said.
Mr Sada commended the Permanent Secretary and the Management of Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for their roles in the restoration of 20% retention of internally generated revenue (IGR) for the development of infrastructure and procurement of standards. He also disclosed that pre-shipment inspectors have been trained on crude oil and gas measurement to enable them resume pre-shipment inspection of crude oil and gas at the export terminals.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, represented by the Director of Human Resources, Mr Dauda Haruna, in his goodwill message to the assembly, assured the department that conducive environment will be provided for Weight and Measures Inspectors to carry out their statutory responsibilities effectively: “Your welfare is paramount to the Management”, he said.
He commended the efforts of the officers who have been working assiduously in the field to generate revenue for the Government despite enormous challenges faced in the course of doing their jobs; he further encouraged them by saying “You may be aware that the issue concerning Weight and Measures Department have been discussed on the floor of the National Assembly. The Legislators are keenly interested in the development of Legal Metrology infrastructure in Nigeria; they are even recommending the upgrade of Weight and Measures Department to an Agency of its own.”
The representative of the Permanent Secretary further said: “It is not only the National Assembly that is committed to the transformation of Weight and Measures; even the World Bank has recently joined the list of International donors or Development partners that are coming up with programmes that are tilted towards the progress of your Department.”
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