Emir wants violators of standard measures punished
From MU’AWUYA B. IDRIS, Katsina

EMIR of Katsina, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammadu Kabir Usman, has called on the state government to promulgate a law that will punish the violators of rules and regulations of weight and measure.
Receiving members of weight and measures committee at his palace, Alhaji Kabir Usman explained that the job of the committee could not be successful without a law backing its activities.
He said in the past, a lot of efforts had been put in place to regulate weight and measures but could not succeed due to absence of clear penalties against the violators.
The emir also appealed for the restoration of the title of Sarkin Kasuwa and all other offices of traditional title holders related to market operations.
At Daura, the Emir, Alhaji Muhammad Bashar, stated that the job of the committee if carried out effectively would reduce a lot of menace in the society.
Alhaji Bashar urged members of the committee to regard their assignment as a religious obligation and consider the value of the reward that awaits them in the hereafter.
He implored the state government to involve market women and market leaders in the committee.
Earlier, the chairman of the committee and state commissioner of commerce and industries, Alhaji Kabir Doro, had said that the aim of the committee is to standardize the weight and measures and introduce uniformity in the sale of grains and other consumables.
Alhaji Doro said the committee also aims at reducing sharp malpractices and promoting competition in domestic trading activities.
The commissioner said some of the terms of reference of the committee include identifying ways government can recover money spent on the purchase of the weight and measure from their sale to users.
He said a sub-committee will be set up to meet the local government chairmen and people from the grassroots on ways to achieve the goals.