Ease of Doing Business: Manufacturers commend SON’s e-payment scheme

Stakeholders in the manufacturing and Imports sector from the southeast region of Nigeria, have endorsed the Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s “Electronic Demand Note and Receipt Payment for Ease of Doing Business” scheme, saying it would promote transparency in the delivery of services.

They stated that the scheme, which  is expected to take off in November this year, would reduce the risk of running to the offices of the agency for transactions, saves time, reduces corruption as well as boosts confidence in trade and services being rendered by the agency to entrepreneurs.

An entrepreneur, Mr. Fidelis Mgbafuru-Ike said; “It is going to enhance a lot of things, the way we will do things from the comfort of our rooms; and be able to do all the things we normally do that takes a lot of resources, energy and time from us. It will save us a lot of money. We say kudos to SON. They should keep it up and keep enhancing our lives, the way they are doing now,” Mgbafuru-Ike stated.

Meanwhile, speaking at the sensitisation forum held at Oakland hotel, Enugu, the Director General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, noted that it was a well-thought out programme, stressing that the innovation would fast-track access to SON’s services in line with the federal government’s mantra of ease of doing business.

“This development is a result of SON’s commitment to promoting a level playing ground for manufacturers, Importers and indeed all business owners in Nigeria and reiterates SON’s commitment to facilitating businesses with a view to improving life through standards,” Salim said.

He stated that the electronic mode of business payments and receipts, apart from its convenience and safety, eliminates the hassles of cash logistics.

“The use of the E-demand note and E-receipts holds the promise of broad benefits to our economy and to you, our stakeholders. In line with our mandate of improving life through standards, SON is continually seeking our ways to facilitate businesses by reducing where we are unable to completely eliminate the bureaucracy that is associated with public institutions,” Salim added.

He stated that the sensitisation had taken place in Lagos, Abuja and Portharcourt, stressing that the aim was to educate the stakeholders that with their android phones and from the comfort of their homes, they could transact with the agency.

Director of Public Relations of the agency, Mrs  Folusho Bolaji said; “It will reduce human interface. This innovation will remove manual issuing of receipts and demands. We are being standardized to compete with other countries of the world that have attempted to digitize their services. With this, one can go through the services rendered by SON and prices listed. It is a transparent method of doing business.

“The good thing about this innovation is that it is wholly indigenous. Everything we put into the app was locally made by our own engineers and that is the beauty of it. SON is at the forefront of trade. We are poised to ensure that Nigerians do their businesses with ease in line with FG’s directive. We have toll freed lines that can be used for any complaints. This will improve business interaction,” she added.