KNOW AND PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER.
“The Customer is King” is a popular refrain, but sadly this is not the reality in Nigeria where consumers are losing hundreds of millions of Naira to inferior products, overpricing, illegal charges, unneeded products or services etc.
In today’s complex marketplace we, as consumers, often run into problems with products and services. The questions are: What do you do about them? What are your legal rights as a consumer? Who do you turn to for help? Where do you find needed information? How do you protect yourself against fraud?
Being a knowledgeable consumer is your first line of defense against fraud and this informs our focus this week on educating you on your rights as a consumer and how you can use a body like the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) to protect and enforce these rights.
What are my rights as a Consumer?
Essentially consumer protection laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional protection for the weak and those unable to take care of themselves. Consumer protection laws are a form of government regulation, which aims at protecting the rights of consumers which include-
Right to Satisfaction of Basic Needs
Access to basic goods and services necessary for survival, such as food, water, energy, clothing, shelter, health-care, education and sanitation. Goods and services must meet the standard of quality promised such that there is value for money in the purchase.
Right to Safety
Protection from hazardous products, production processes and services.
Right to Information
Provision of information enabling informed consumer choice as well as protection from misleading or inaccurate advertising and labeling.
Right to Choose
Access to variety of quality products and services at competitive prices.
Right to Redress
Compensation for misrepresentation, shoddy goods and unsatisfactory public and private services, including the right to adequate legal representation.
Right to Consumer Education
Acquisition of the skills required to be an informed consumer throughout life
Right to Consumer Representation
Advocacy of consumers’ interest and the ability to take part in the formulation of economic and other policies affecting consumers i.e. the right to be heard
Right to a Healthy Environment
Habitation is a place that is safe for present and future generations and which will enhance the quality of their lives.
What do I do if my Rights are breached?
Where a consumer is not satisfied or feels shortchanged, he or she is entitled to seek for redress by possible compensation through the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) which is an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.
CPC was specifically set up amongst other things to stop unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices by collecting complaints and conducting investigations, suing companies and people that break the law, developing rules to maintain a fair marketplace, and educating consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities.
In addition to the primary task of receiving and acting on consumer complaints, the CPC also carries out the following functions
- the Council carries out surveillance and enforcement activities in the market place;
- conducts quality tests and analyses on products and services;
- compels producers of goods and services to adhere to quality standards/ specifications;
- issues guidelines, regulations, etc to producers of goods and services;
- bans the sale, distribution and advertisement of substandard and defective products and services;
- prosecutes offenders, when and where necessary.
- obtains compensation, relief, safeguards, etc for injured consumers or communities;
- applies to court to protect the rights of consumers.
In the event of a breach of your consumer rights, you can petition the CPC directly (http://cpc.gov.ng) and you will receive a response, you can also decide to do this through your lawyer.
© Iyiola Oyedepo & Company
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