ISSN 2039-2117 (online) ISSN 2039-9340 (print) Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy Vol 7 No 5 September 2016 67 Standards Organization of Nigeria and Funding Challenges to Quality Control Albert Okorie Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Email:okorie.albert@unn.edu.ng Agbo Humphrey Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Email: humphrey.agbo@unn.edu.ng Doi:10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n5p67 Abstract Nigeria is fast becoming a beehive of substandard products. This is as a result of the threat posed by influx, domestic production and circulation of substandard products. This accounts for uncountable deaths and monumental economic losses. Thus, consumers are compelled to patronize imported fairly used products. Such products have gained wider acceptability given its genuineness, originality and durability over new products. This paper examined the nexus between Standards Organization of Nigeria and Funding Challenges to Quality Control, which has not been adequately addressed by extant literature. Thus the study relied on bureaucratic theory and averred that poor funding of Standards Organization of Nigeria is implicated in its failure on products standardization in Nigeria. The paper adopted qualitative methods of data collection supplemented by interview administration, while qualitative descriptive method was used in the analysis of data collected. The study found that inadequate funds from Federal Government and poor revenue base accounted for her failure to adequately implement its statutory mandate on products standardization. Consequently, responsible for influx and domestic production of substandard products in Nigeria. The paper recommended improved funding to enable the organization recruit needed manpower, equip and establish more laboratories, offices and procure more utility vehicles for efficient and effective implementation of its duties. Keywords: Mandatory Industrial Standards, Products, Standardization, Laws, Bureaucracy. Introduction 1. Nigeria economy is currently under the siege of substandard products, thus posed great challenge to the government, regulatory institutions, consumers and the entire public. The global media is flooded with news of harmful and substandard products in Nigerian markets. Recently cases of 84 deaths of children in Nigeria due to harmful teething pain drugs and melamine milk scandal which left 6 children dead and other 300,000 sickened are examples that shade the magnitude of the problem (Hussein and Kachwamba 2011). Equally reports of collapsed buildings, roads and bridges, automobile accidents, fire outbreaks, failure of home appliances abound, necessitating inquiry into the role of regulatory agencies and consumer protection institutions. Odumodu (2013) noted that Nigeria is losing over 1 trillion naira annually to importation and domestic production of substandard items. This figure covers loss of expected tax revenue to government, income to local manufacturers employment generation and the losses incurred by consumers for purchasing non durable and substandard items. Consumer Protection Council (2012) remarked that about 1 million lives are lost annually in Nigeria following use and consumption of substandard items ranging from food, drinks, automobile and electrical parts to building materials. Odumodu (2012) and Akanya (2014) submitted that 85 percent of imported products in Nigeria are substandard. According to Odumodu (2012:17). There is virtually or hardly any product that is not either faked or its quality sub-standard when compared with the original. From the pharmaceutical to the texile, beverages, ceramics, electrical and electronics, building, book publishing, music and even Nigeria’s fast rising home video industry (Odumodu 2012:17). The oil boom in the early 1970s stimulated domestic production and facilitated massive importation of goods. Consequently, Federal Government of Nigeria in realization that most products posses some unobservable or intrinsic attributes which make consumers evaluation before purchase more difficult, established Standard Organization of Nigeria by Decree No. 56 of 1971. The organization has the responsibility for establishment and elaboration of standards for products processes. In addition, it is to ensure compliance with the Federal Government policies on standards and quality