Weights and measures; Trade Ministry seals banks ATMs over non-compliance with rules.

Report from Federal Ministry of Trade and Investments.

Weights And Measures Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment’s enforcement team, led by the Principal Legal Metrology Officer, Mr. Olusegun Ateji has sealed ATM machines belonging to the First Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Zenith and Fidelity Bank and Point of Sale (POS) machine of the Automatic Technik Baumaun Nigeria limited in Abuja.

The Principal Legal Metrology Officer, Mr. Olusegun Ateji

While addressing journalists who accompanied him to the sealed banks, Mr. Ateji said that the sealed ATM machines did not comply with Weights and Measures Act section 7 and 30b which stipulates that all weighing and measurement instruments must be tested and passed before it can be used for businesses.

“Every weighing and measuring instrument must have certificate of verification. The sealed machines do not possess the certificate which will certify that the machines were accurate, fair and legal to be used for businesses”, he stated.
Also, in another development, the team sealed Point of Sale (POS) machine used for parking vehicles in Area 3 by the consulting firm, Automatic Technik Baumaun Nigeria Limited because the machine was not registered and verified by Weights and Measures Department.

The leader of the team explained that the POS terminal need to be registered and verified to ensure that the timing on the device is accurate and fair so that car owners would not be cheated. “The POS must carry certificate of verification to authenticate its accuracy and if not it has contravened Weights and Measures Act”, he stressed.

The Director, Weights and Measures Department, Eng. Joseph Sikuade in his office at the Headquarters of the Ministry said that the Ministry has been interacting with stakeholders to enlighten them on the need to comply with Weights and Measures Act, adding that the recent intervention by the Department was geared towards satisfying customers and most of the operators have been complying with the Weights and Measures Act. “Customers are our priority and for them to get value for their money, the Ministry’s responsibility is to ensure accuracy in all transactions, fairness and legal use of weighing and measuring instrument in the country”, Engr. Sikuade said.

Other banks that have started to comply with Weights and Measures Act were GTB, Heritage Bank and Wema Bank plc.

The verification certificate is mandatory for every marketer to possess for its equipment which is valid for a year and it is usually issued after dispensing pumps had been tested and found to be accurate but due to their nature and a bid to maximize profit, some marketers readjust their meter to short-change motorists.