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CPC probes banks for customer rights abuse

By on March 19, 2016

The Consumer Protection Council on Thursday said it was investigating cases of consumer rights abuse by the banking and hospitality sectors of the economy.

The Director-General, CPC, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ workshop held in Abuja as part of activities to commemorate the World Consumer Rights Day.

She said owing to the rising complaints in these sectors of the economy, the council was determined to pursue the protection of consumer rights with vigour.

Atoki said while a lot of success had been recorded in the food and beverage sector of the economy in protecting the rights of consumers, other sectors had yet to feel the regulatory impact of the council.

She said the success recorded under her watch since her assumption of office needed to be replicated in the financial sector owing to the widespread abuse of consumer rights.

Atoki stated, “In view of the widespread abuse of consumer rights in the country, I elected on assumption of office to embark on sectoral interventions as opposed to resolving only individual complaints.

“The reasoning is that the modification of the conduct of a major industry player resulting from such investigation would set the standards for other industry players in that sector to follow, thereby guaranteeing consumer satisfaction at a faster and wider spread.

“Without doubt, this has yielded enormous benefits to consumers in the food and beverage sector. Currently, complaints about half-filled cans and foreign substances in drinks, including rusty bottle tops have been greatly reduced.”

She added, “There are ongoing investigations in the banking and finance and hospitality sectors and the effects would soon be felt. My resolve is to take the ongoing reforms to as many sectors as we can in spite of all odds.

“The council is determined to continue to pursue the protection of the rights of consumers with vigour.”

Atoki said the council, in the next few days, would be carrying out an aggressive advocacy on consumer rights.

“Consumers are, therefore, urged not to just grumble among themselves, but to complain when their rights have been breached,” she added.

The Chairman, Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria, Mr. Okey Akpa, called for multi-sectoral consumer education to adequately address the issue of rights to information of consumers.

 

[Punch]