Ease of Doing Business: Southeast stakeholders endorse SON’s e- payment scheme

Stakeholders in the manufacturing and import sector in the southeast region on Thursday endorsed the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) electronic demand note and receipt payment for ease of doing business, saying it would promote transparency in service delivery.

They stated that the scheme, which will 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.

“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”, an entrepreneur, Okechukwu Eze stated.

Speaking at the sensitisation forum in Enugu, he urged the agency to ensure that the innovation is sustained.

Director General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, noted that the innovation is a well-thought out programme to fast-track access to SON’s services in line with the Federal Government’s ease of doing business mantra.

“This development is as a result of SON’s commitment to promoting a level playing ground for manufacturers, importers and businesses in the country. It reiterates SON’s commitment to facilitating businesses with a view to improving life through standards,” he said.

He disclosed that the electronic mode of business payments and receipts, apart from its convenience and safety, eliminates the hassles of cash logistics, adding that it guarantees accountability, transparency, lowers transaction cost, increases government efficiency and boosts financial intermediation.

He said: “The use of the e-demand note and e-receipts hold 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 ways to facilitate businesses by reducing the bureaucracy that is associated with public institutions.”

The DG disclosed that the sensitisation has taken place in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, stressing that the aim was to educate stakeholders that with their android phones and from the comfort of their homes, they could transact their businesses.