By Demola Akinyemi Ilorin

In order to curb avoidable killings of Nigerians arising from building collapse,the Iron Rod and Steel Dealers Employers Union of Nigeria(IRSDEUN),has tasked the National Assembly to demonstrate courage to enforce its oversight powers, including taking firm action against agencies that refuse to honour legislative summons.

The National president of the union,Chief Gbenga Awoyale made the call in a statement made available to journalists in ilorin.

Awoyale who said that the statement was driven by a sense of duty and deep concern for the safety of Nigerians who continue to suffer the consequences of a long-standing and unresolved national failure cited the recent collapse of a Three -storey building in Rivers state with several Nigerians injured.

He said that the persistent production and circulation of substandard iron rods in the Nigerian market remains one of the gravest threats to public safety.”

“These tragedies are not acts of fate; they are the outcomes of systemic regulatory failure and deliberate compromise.”he stressed.

He also called for the immediate removal of Head of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON)in Lagos over allegation of compromising the integrity of his office.

“Equally alarming is the widespread practice of dual production. Evidence from within the industry indicates that some manufacturers deliberately produce substandard iron rods for domestic consumption while exporting standard-compliant products to neighbouring West African countries.”, stressing that,”this practice exposes a cruel reality: the technical capacity to meet standards exists, but Nigerian lives are discounted because the system allows it. It is a moral and regulatory failure of the highest order.”

Awoyale explained that,”Several attempts by the National Assembly to summon relevant regulatory institutions, particularly the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), as part of efforts to get to the root of the matter, have reportedly been frustrated by non-appearance and institutional resistance.

“What is deeply troubling is the apparent reluctance of the National Assembly to take critical action in response to this refusal to honour legislative summons, despite its constitutional authority to do so.

“This failure has weakened oversight, emboldened regulatory impunity, and allowed dangerous practices to continue unchecked.

“The National Assembly must demonstrate the courage to enforce its oversight powers, including taking firm action against agencies that refuse to honour legislative summons.”he said.

On the call for immediate removal of Head of SON in Lagos,he said ,”of particular concern is the situation in Lagos State, Nigeria’s industrial hub. There have been credible instances where discreet oversight visits by SON’s top hierarchy from Abuja were allegedly compromised at the state level. In one such instance, the head of SON in Lagos State reportedly alerted manufacturers ahead of inspections, leading them to halt production temporarily and conceal non-compliant practices.

“This conduct, if left unaddressed, explains why enforcement exercises yield little result while substandard iron rods remain readily available in the market.

“This renewed call is therefore unavoidable. Accountability must begin with the immediate removal of the head of SON in Lagos State to allow for an independent and transparent investigation into allegations of sabotage and abuse of office. “he said.