Institute urges INEC to obey Printers’ Act

The Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria
(CIPPON) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) to obey the law on printing.

The institute is established by an Act of Parliament, No. 24 of
2007. It is empowered to advise government and its agencies on
printing.

But, the institute said INEC does not consult it with regards to
printing of electoral materials as required by the law.

The institute has filed a suit at the Lagos State High Court
seeking a declaration that no company can run a printing business
in Nigeria without CIPPON license.

Its President Mr Wahab Muhammed Lawal said CIPPON had written
severally to INEC on the need to patronise licensed Nigerian
printers, yet the commission prefers to take printing jobs
abroad.

He spoke on the sidelines of a two-day mandatory professional
training for printers on Introduction to Costing and
Estimating.

“Up till now INEC chairman refused to meet with the institute.
We see it as a contravention of an Act of Parliament. The law says
we should advise government on any issue pertaining to
printing.

“If the stakeholders will imitate the late Gani Fawehinmi, who
took government to court on several issues, we may borrow a leaf
from him and enforce our right in court.”

Lawal said government can help tackle the printing of fake
documents by not patronising print companies not licensed by
CIPPON.

“Presently we have some cases in court against some printers who
think they can continue operating without license. We are in court
and very soon judgment will be delivered. CIPPON took them to court
for contravening the Act of parliament,” he said.

Lawal said it was not true that Nigerian printers lack the
capacity to print sensitive electoral materials.

“The claim that we don’t have the capacity is an excuse to
enrich other countries at the expense of Nigerians and the country.
They should entrust the printing of electoral materials into the
hands of Nigerians through CIPPON which knows about printers’
capacity.

“We’re not asking them to patronise certain printers, but to
make sure they’re licensed with us. We can be held responsible if
they fail to deliver. The naira is printed in Nigeria. Chequebooks
are printed in Nigeria.

“If any printer has failed to deliver, it is likely due to wrong
award of contracts, not lack of capacity. Where we don’t have raw
materials, so it is wrong for INEC or print buyers wait till it’s
two weeks to the date before they award contracts,” he said.

Lawal described as unfortunate the fact that Nigeria has no
functional paper mill, with a lot of money spent on importation of
printing materials.

On why the training was organised, he said: “Due to lack of
materials, profit has drastically reduced. Some presses are even
closing down. That’s why the training is on costing and estimating
for the purpose of cost recovery and cost control.”

One of the facilitators, Mr Lai Bankole, also urged INEC to
patronise local printers, saying it a way to boost the industry’s
capacity and contribute to the country’s economy.

CIPPON has also held this year’s Printers National Conference,
which featured an annual general meeting and presentation of
certificates to newly licenced printing firms.

The Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria
(CIPPON) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) to obey the law on printing.

The institute is established by an Act of Parliament, No. 24 of
2007. It is empowered to advise government and its agencies on
printing.

But, the institute said INEC does not consult it with regards to
printing of electoral materials as required by the law.

The institute has filed a suit at the Lagos State High Court
seeking a declaration that no company can run a printing business
in Nigeria without CIPPON license.

Its President Mr Wahab Muhammed Lawal said CIPPON had written
severally to INEC on the need to patronise licensed Nigerian
printers, yet the commission prefers to take printing jobs
abroad.

He spoke on the sidelines of a two-day mandatory professional
training for printers on Introduction to Costing and
Estimating.

“Up till now INEC chairman refused to meet with the institute.
We see it as a contravention of an Act of Parliament. The law says
we should advise government on any issue pertaining to
printing.

“If the stakeholders will imitate the late Gani Fawehinmi, who
took government to court on several issues, we may borrow a leaf
from him and enforce our right in court.”

Lawal said government can help tackle the printing of fake
documents by not patronising print companies not licensed by
CIPPON.

“Presently we have some cases in court against some printers who
think they can continue operating without license. We are in court
and very soon judgment will be delivered. CIPPON took them to court
for contravening the Act of parliament,” he said.

Lawal said it was not true that Nigerian printers lack the
capacity to print sensitive electoral materials.

“The claim that we don’t have the capacity is an excuse to
enrich other countries at the expense of Nigerians and the country.
They should entrust the printing of electoral materials into the
hands of Nigerians through CIPPON which knows about printers’
capacity.

“We’re not asking them to patronise certain printers, but to
make sure they’re licensed with us. We can be held responsible if
they fail to deliver. The naira is printed in Nigeria. Chequebooks
are printed in Nigeria.

“If any printer has failed to deliver, it is likely due to wrong
award of contracts, not lack of capacity. Where we don’t have raw
materials, so it is wrong for INEC or print buyers wait till it’s
two weeks to the date before they award contracts,” he said.

Lawal described as unfortunate the fact that Nigeria has no
functional paper mill, with a lot of money spent on importation of
printing materials.

On why the training was organised, he said: “Due to lack of
materials, profit has drastically reduced. Some presses are even
closing down. That’s why the training is on costing and estimating
for the purpose of cost recovery and cost control.”

One of the facilitators, Mr Lai Bankole, also urged INEC to
patronise local printers, saying it a way to boost the industry’s
capacity and contribute to the country’s economy.

CIPPON has also held this year’s Printers National Conference,
which featured an annual general meeting and presentation of
certificates to newly licenced printing firms.