4 little known facts that restrain the CPC from protecting the Nigerian Consumer
1. High Level of Ignorance amongst the Nigerian Consumers: This phenomenon is not only predominant amongst the majority illiterate Nigerians but also amongst the literate and even the educated. The number of Nigerians aware of the existence of this parastatal of government, backed by law is arguably very small. The number is sure to further deep if one seeks to know those (from those who claim to be aware) that have sought redress through the council or any other means at all.
2. Bureaucratic Bottlenecks: This is common with all government institutions at all levels. Nigerians are generally opposed to the idea of using government institutions to process anything (except if it’s the only option available) and would readily prefer any other alternative even if it means forfeiting their hard-earned money and accepting their loss. Yes, the pains and losses resulting from the purchase of a substandard or faulty product or service fades into nothingness, when compared to the troubles of the bureaucratic bottlenecks of most public institutions, if one decides to seek redress.
3. Poor Constitutional Framework: Inherent weaknesses in the enabling law hinder an efficient implementation of the provisions of the act to properly protect the Nigerian consumers. These weaknesses include but are not limited to non definition of consumers’ rights and inadequate provisions for their enforcement; lack of a specific institutional framework for the defense of consumers’ rights; undefined relationship with sector regulators leading to some confusion as to the role of the agency; an over-bloated and unwieldy 43-member governing board and many more.
4. The Corruption and Ineptitude of Law Enforcement Apparatus: Every law or policy is only as viable as the degree to which it is enforced. It is the enforcement of a law, and not its formulation that delivers benefit to the people. Sadly, our law enforcement apparatus are grossly unequipped, uninformed and completely untrustworthy to handle the enforcement aspect of this act. More so, the security and political challenges facing the country at the moment has resulted in the relegation of ‘trivial’ issues such as consumer protection to the back burner on the priority list of Nigeria Law enforcement institutions such as the Police and the Judiciary. All this is in addition to the debilitating level of corruption associated with these institutions, which makes them (judiciary and police) far from being the only hope of the common, especially if the aggrieved consumer is up against a major player in the economy.
Source: NigerianConsumers
Photocredit: AGICO website
