NAN-H-90
Consumers
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, March 15, 2017 (NAN) The Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (CCHR) has urged the Federal Government to put all necessary frameworks in place to fully protect the rights of consumers in Nigeria.
Mr Toyin Raheem, Executive Secretary of CCHR made the call in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the statement came as Nigeria joined other countries to mark the World Consumer Rights Day, observed yearly on March 15.
It is celebrated annually to instigate action among citizens for the international consumer movement and gives a platform for all to voice difficulties they face.
It is part of efforts to ensure that rights of consumers are respected and protected over injustice done in the market.
This year’s theme is: “Building digital world consumers can trust.’’
Raheem said Nigerians were made to pay for services not rendered and short changed through substandard goods in place of authentic products advertised to attract consumers.
“As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Consumers Rights Day, we at CCHR call on government to put all necessary legal frameworks in place to protect the rights of consumers in Nigeria.
“The exploitation of the masses increases on daily basis. Nigerians are made to pay for services not rendered and short changed through substandard goods in place of authentic products advertised to attract consumers.
“Infringement on the rights of consumers in Nigeria is not limited to a particular sector in Nigeria — from power distributors to telecommunication to manufacturing industries, banking industry, gasoline filling stations, government agencies among others,’’ he said.
He called on the Minister for Power to liaise with the presidency with the aim of sending a bill to the National Assembly to promulgate a law that would criminalise non-provision of prepaid meters to consumers, billing for services not rendered and disconnection of consumers’ electricity without notifying them in advance.
Raheem urged Community Development Associations and Community Development councils all over the country to stop coercing dwellers of their communities to contribute money to buy transformers, poles or cables to repair electricity distribution companies’ equipment.
He said it was the legitimate duty of distribution companies to provide and repair all equipment needed to provide electricity, including transformers and pre-paid meters at no cost to consumers.
Raheem expressed appreciation to Consumers Protection Council, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, National Human Rights Commission and Public Complaints Commission for their efforts to protect consumers.
He, however, urged the agencies to do more by ensuring that appropriate sanctions were meted out to companies or organisations which provided and sold substandard goods to the people.
Raheem said his group would continually partner with these organisations to sensitise the masses on their rights.
He urged government to be more proactive and back up all guidelines with appropriate laws.
According to him, it is the law that will make guidelines and directives enforceable when they are contravened. (NAN)
LED/FF/SOA
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Oluwole Sogunle