Government Institutions in Nigeria

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Government has various programmes and policies which are put in place for the good of the citizens. However, for effective implementation of these programmes and policies, various institutions are established.

Here are some of government institutions in Nigeria.

  • NAFDAC: NAFDAC stands for National Agency for Food and Drug
  • Administration and Control.
  • ICPC: ICPC means Independent Corrupt Practices Commission.
  • EFCC: This means Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
  • SON: SON stands for Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

Functions Performed by the Institutions

NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control performs the following functions:

  • It ensures the safety of food and drugs consumed by people in Nigeria.
  • It does this by making sure that the food and drugs are in good condition, which can enhance the good health of the consumers.
  • It reduces the prevalence of fake and substandard drugs in the market.
  • It promotes consumer awareness on the safe use of medicine. NAFDAC enlightens the public on the danger of wrong use of drugs.
  • The organisation formulates and enforces policies in the area of food and drug production. It ensures that the various laws made, concerning drug and food production, are enforced for the benefit of Nigerians.
  • It plays an active role in supporting both the federal and state ministries of health in their functions.

Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC)

The commission was established purposely to deal with corruption in government circles, and, by extension, in the private sector of Nigeria. The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines corruption as dishonest or illegal behaviour, especially of people in authority. The issue of corruption is what the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission intends to deal with. In order to do this, it performs the following functions:

  • It tries to ensure that those placed in positions of trust and authority in government do not use their power and exalted positions to enrich themselves.
  • It assists in ensuring that government workers obey the rules and regulations guiding their jobs.
  • It enforces due process in all government transactions.
  • It checks bribery in public life.
  • It ensures professional discipline and ethics. Ethics refer to the moral principles that control or influence a person’s behaviour. Every profession or trade has its ethics which guide the professionals.
  • It prevents economic sabotage. This means that it helps to deal with persons or activities that destroy the economic growth and development of Nigeria.
  • It deals with matters concerning extradition and deportation between Nigeria and other countries, in matters that have to do with economic and financial crimes.

 

Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)

Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) sets definite standards that should be met by producers of certain goods in the country. The organisation performs the following functions:

  • It ensures that the production of consumable and non-consumable products meet the standards set by the organisation.
  • It reduces the level of goods of poor standard in the market.
  • It also collaborates with the ministries of health at the federal and state levels in promoting health activities and programmes.
  • It is the function of this institution to ensure that locally produced goods are exportable. In addition, it ensures that the goods brought into the country are not substandard. In other words, imported and exported goods should meet the standards approved by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

 

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is charged with the responsibility for the enforcement of all economic and financial crime laws in Nigeria.

The commission came into existence on 4 June 2004. Its functions include the following:

  • It investigates all financial crimes, including advance fee fraud, money laundering, counterfeiting, and contract crimes.
  • It coordinates and enforces all economic and financial crime laws in Nigeria.
  • It ensures transparency and accountability in public life.
  • It collaborates with government institutions, both within and outside Nigeria, in carrying out its functions such as identification and determination of the whereabouts of persons suspected of being involved in crimes.

Quiz

  1. a) Mention three government institutions in Nigeria.
  2. b) Give two functions each of the institutions.
  3. Give the full meaning of these: NAFDAC, SON, EFCC, and ICPC.
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