Economy
IRSDEUN Demands SON’s Dissolution, Restructuring Over Rising Building Collapses
IRSDEUN Demands SON’s Dissolution, Restructuring Over Rising Building Collapses
IRSDEUN demands SON’s dissolution, restructuring over rising building collapses. The Iron Rod and Steel Distributors Employers Union of Nigeria (IRSDEUN) has urged the Federal Government to dissolve and restructure the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as a long-term solution to the frequent building collapses across the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Chief Gbenga Awoyale, National President of the Union, criticized SON’s decision to reverse the shutdown of 18 companies linked to the production of substandard building materials, particularly iron rods.
He blamed alleged government interference for the decision, raising concerns about weak enforcement of quality standards in the construction sector.
Awoyale condemned the widespread use of inferior materials, which he said has led to multiple avoidable building collapses, including at least three incidents in January 2025 alone. Describing the situation as a national embarrassment, he urged the government to take bold steps to hold regulatory bodies accountable.
“The government must act decisively to prevent further loss of lives and property. Dissolving SON and restructuring its framework is the only way to ensure accountability and enforce standards,” he stated.
He also pointed out that despite SON’s legal mandate to prosecute manufacturers of substandard materials, enforcement has been hampered by corruption and collusion within the system.
“The law stipulates prosecution, yet corrupt officials allow violators to escape consequences, fueling this dangerous cycle,” Awoyale added.
The union had made a similar appeal in 2024, but no concrete action was taken, allowing unscrupulous manufacturers to continue flooding the market with inferior materials while exporting high-quality products to countries with stricter regulations.
Citing data from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, he revealed that Nigeria recorded 47 building collapses across 14 states in 2024, with Lagos State alone accounting for 56% of cases.
The House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development also raised alarms over rampant quality violations, exposing cases where iron rods were deliberately undersized, such as 7.56 mm rods being sold as 10 mm and 9.25 mm rods as 12 mm.
IRSDEUN
Calling for urgent reforms, Awoyale stressed that dissolving SON and replacing it with a stronger regulatory agency was not just a necessity but a moral obligation.
“The time for empty promises is over. The government must prioritize public safety over the interests of a few unscrupulous businesses,” he concluded.
Strike: NASU Gives WAEC 7-Day Ultimatum
Strike: NASU gives WAEC 7-day ultimatum. The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) management to address a four-point demand related to workers’ welfare and alleged victimization of labor leaders.
NASU Gives WAEC 7-Day
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Monday, NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, warned that all WAEC offices across the country would be shut down from Monday, March 24, if the demands are not met.
Akwa Ibom LG Chairman Sets To Report Construction Company For Poor Performance
Akwa Ibom LG Chairman sets to report construction company for poor performance. Ikot Ekpene Chairman, Hon. Aniefiok Nkom, has threatened to send digital copies of the Ikot Ekpene – Aba road one-lane construction to Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, despite allegedly underperforming as a council chairman in recent months.
Nkom, whose achievements have been limited to painting the old Ikot Ekpene council secretariat, grading truck parks, and providing limited educational support JAMB forms, made this announcement during a peaceful demonstration by students of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua.
The students were protesting persistent brutality and harassment by officers from the Nigerian Police Force, Ikot Ekpene Division, and QIU, Ikot Ekpene Division.
The council chairman accused the construction company, Messrs CGGC Global Projects Nigeria Limited, of building a one-lane carriage instead of the approved dualized road, referencing Contract No.6569 and Project Code ERGP12141436 under the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, awarded in 2019.
Nkom stated, “For those of us from Ikot Ekpene, you have seen this road. For those coming from Aba, you can see where they stopped the dual carriage.
Now, they are constructing a single lane to Ikot Ekpene. This is what we are talking about when we mention injustice.”
Akwa Ibom
He further mentioned his intention to document the road’s condition with NTA and send the footage to the Senate President, calling the situation a serious embarrassment to Akwa Ibom State.
Addressing the issue of police brutality against Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic students, Nkom asserted that any policeman or army officer who harasses a student without any offense will face consequences, urging students to always carry their identity cards.
PenOp Vows To Comply With PenCom’s 3-Day Pension Payment Directive
PenOp vows to comply with PenCom’s 3-day pension payment directive. The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) has assured the National Pension Commission (PenCom) that its members will comply with the recent directive to settle all pension benefits within three working days.
The National Pension Commission has mandated Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and fund custodians to approve and pay pension benefits to eligible applicants within three working days of receiving complete applications.
Oguche Agudah, chief executive officer of PenOp, speaking in Lagos, said that the directive was positive and could foster accountability.
Mr Agudah said PenOp members were fully aligned with PenCom’s efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the pension system in Nigeria.
He said, “This is a good development for pensioners, Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), and the entire system.
PenOp Vows To Comply
“PFAs are going to comply with this new directive, which is set to begin in June. We will ensure service levels are maintained, and we will also ensure people get their money as and when due.
“We recognise the importance of timely payment of pension benefits to retirees, and we are committed to working with PenCom to achieve this goal.”
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