Revisión de la Revista Árabe de Negocios y Gestión

Protecting the Nigerian Consumer: An Expository Examination of the Role of Consumer Protection Council

Abstract

Nwankwo Cosmas A, Anyanwu Aham V and Nwankwo Cosmas A

This study examines the protection of Nigerian Consumers with particular reference to the role of Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria (CPC) established by the Act C25 of 2004 and charged with the responsibility to promote, protect and safeguard the rights and interests of consumers in all areas of goods and services. The study analyzed primary data against the background of the objectives of the study. Evidences available indicate that consumer protection in Nigeria, like in most less developed countries had remained at the lowest ebb in spite of the prevalence of unwholesome business practices. The study observed that although the CPC Act recognized the rights of consumers, it does not specifically provide how these rights should be enforced, as they were merely implied and subsumed into the functions of the Act Council. The study also found that most of the consumers do not take time to study the labels on products before purchase and as a result, they do not have full information about the products that would help them to protect their rights. Consumers’ awareness of their protection laws is low, which results in the absence of litigations against sellers even in cases of obvious infringements. The implication of the findings is that the Consumer Protection Council should be more proactive in safeguarding the rights and welfare of consumers in Nigeria. The paper recommended intensified consumer education, by Consumer Protection Council, focusing on consumers in order to increase their knowledge as well as push for the amendment of specific sections of the Act C25 of 2004 to add more powers to the Council to enable them give the aggrieved consumers unfettered access to courts to pursue their rights.