Monday, March 11, 2013

Stakeholders set to restore Nigeria’s consumer rights


CONSUMERS hold the key to the success of any organisation. But many Nigeria organisations tend to see it differently. While some merely pay lip service to that time-tested business ethic, consumers are often not treated as kings. The customer service approach of most organisations is a pointer to this.

Now, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) is set to match words with action. In collaboration with the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) among other relevant agencies, it is set to address the violation of Nigerian consumers’ right at a colloquium and inauguration of new executives of Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN) on March 15 at Eko Hotel, Lagos. It has as theme ‘Consumer Right in Nigeria: The most Violated?’
Other relevant government agencies scheduled for the industry discourse include National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), Nigerian Communication Commission, (NCC) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) through its Consumer Protection Unit (CPU).
The director generals of these reputable agencies have confirmed their readiness to participate at the event, which also falls on World Consumer Day.
To mark the day with the global body, which urges industry stakeholders worldwide to use the occasion to create awareness and expose the damage caused by poor or non-existence of consumer protection around the world, BJAN confirmed in a release that the DG of CPC, Mr. Emmanuel Amlai will lead the discussion as the keynote speaker while chairman of APCON, Lolu Akinwunmi; DG of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, DG of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, DG of NCC, Mr. Eugene Juwah and President of ADVAN, Mr. Kola Oyeyemi are listed as discussants.
According to the newly elected Chairman of BJAN, Mr. Goddie Ofose, in line with the World Consumer Day and advocacy of Consumer International, CI, the only independent global campaigning voice for consumers with over 220 member organisations in 115 countries, BJAN is initiating the move to build a powerful Nigeria consumer movement and wake the stakeholders to help protect and empower Nigerian consumers with the role given to them, salvaging the helpless Nigerian consumers whose right was always being infringed upon every now and then.
He noted, “Whether it is faulty products causing injury, utility service providers ignoring complaints, or irresponsible lending by banks, better consumer protection is always part of the solution. While many Nigerian consumers don’t get reparation for any damage done to them by companies or oftentimes taken for granted by service providers and goods’ producers because the regulators or consumerism is weak in this part of the world, BJAN is sending a wakeup call to address the need to protect the right of Nigerian consumers whose right seem to be the most violated across the globe”.
While many consumers fell for fraudulent promotions last year which called for a ban by NCC, Ofose said the colloquium will ensure stakeholders come to terms with the best ways to protect Nigerian consumers as well as propping the regulators up to dealing with consumer-related issues as they concern goods and service providers.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Chapter Chairman said it would inaugurate the new executive of the association in accordance with the code of the body.

No comments:

Post a Comment