Legal Metrology Department ‎(weights and measures) in the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment has expressed concerns that it cannot perform its statutory function due largely to lack of functional vehicle to perform its duties.
The department, which is empowered by its enabling law, Weight and Measures Act Cap W3 LFN, 2004, is currently raising concern that if the Federal Government does not empower it to perform its statutory function the government may be loosing lots of revenue, especially now it is seeking alternative sources of income to reflate the economy.
Ibhugom Olala, the director of Legal Metrology, at a quarterly assembly of the inspectors of Weight and Measures Department in the ministry, said the department was highly constrained by lack ‎ manpower and logistics.
At present, the total staff strength of the department is 250, and the number of serviceable functional vehicle is virtually nil, the director said.
It would be noted that by its enabling law, the scope of the department’s mandate spans the entire Nigeria’s economy, especially the oil and gas, telecoms, manufacturing, health, agriculture, foods and allied products.
Meanwhile, the representative of the permanent secretary in the ministry, Ochakpa Ogenyi, assured the department that the provisions in the 2017 budget estimates would address some of the concerns raised by them, while urging them to come up with an articulate communiqué at the end of the meeting.
‎He assured further that the ministry was working round the clock to ensure that there was no impediment on the part of the department with regard to performing its statutory functions.

Source: BUSINESS DAY