NAN-HE-14
Redress
By Lucy Nwachukwu and Olapwunmi Ashafa
Lagos, Dec. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Director General of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Mrs Dupe Atoki on Wednesday said that the council in 2016 issued orders of refund and compensation worth N2.5 billion.
Atoki said this in Lagos on Wednesday at the maiden edition of the council’s presentation of its 2016 Annual Report, that the refund included 31,948.87 US dollars and €1,406.
According to her, the total number of complaints from several sectors stood at 5,000 while 4,000 were resolved.
She also said that electricity and power as well as chemical and allied products sectors had highest and least number of complaints respectively.
She said that the highest number of redress was from the financial sector while the least was insurance.
“Our focus on Banking sector led to the order of First Bank Monument Bank to refund N1.54 billion to Bauchi State Government being unlawful bank charges and deductions.
“While the matter remains subjudice, the sector is currently mindful of such exploitative behaviour.”
On intervention in the hospitality sector, the director-general said the council focused on the VIP Express Tourism Ltd.
She said the council ordered the refund of over N25 million to over 60 subscribers of the service due to exploitative nature of the contracts they were made to sign which among others waived their rights to rescind same.
Atoki said that the telecommunication was not left out as the council’s intervention in the sector was to safeguard advertisement, promotions and information that were deceptive or misleadimg.
“In this wise, the foremost provider of telecommunication service, MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd., came under the investigation,” she added.
Atoki disclosed that under enforcement, the total value of substandard products removed from Nigerian market was over N242.3 million with food and beverages taking over N200 million and tobacco with least value of about N300,000.
She said that further breakdown of the value of seized products showed that substandard products worth N202 million were seized from malls, super markets shops and warehouses, while the value of electrical and electronic products seized during the period was N40 million.
Shedding more light on the activities of the council, the director-general attributed the positive strides made by the council during her administration to adoption of sectoral intervention and other initiatives.
She said that the council’s adoption of sectoral intervention as a strategy facilitated the results achieved and provided speed and spread to consumers redress.
Atoki described the achievement highlighted in the annual report as “a reflection of the work we have done to promote and protect the interest of Nigerian Consumer.”
The CPC boss also said that when she got to the office in May 2013, ”consumer abuse in virtually all sectors was perversive.”
She, however, noted that due to high level of consumer abuse, the council developed its 2013-2017 strategic plan.
According to her, the plan identifies a tripod stand for a fast-track delivery of its mandate via sectoral intervention, enhanced consumer awareness and collaborations with other sector regulators. (NAN)
LCN/AWA/IS
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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz