The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cpc

  • Dangote condemns rumors of GMO rice importation

    Dangote condemns rumors of GMO rice importation

    Dangote Group has vehemently condemned the malicious broadcast alleging a partnership between the company and the Federal Government for the importation and sales of genetically modified organism (GMO) rice.

    The said GMOs refer to a food item or an organism that has had its DNA altered or modified in some ways through genetic engineering. In most cases, GMOs have been altered with DNA from another organism, be it a bacterium, plant, virus or animal.

    According to the group in statement made available to pressmen on Tuesday, “it is absolutely false! Dangote is not involved in the production or sales of GMOs and its research in Nigeria or anywhere.

    “However, what people should know is the ground breaking progress Dangote Rice has made since 2014 when it stopped importation of rice and began local cultivation,” the statement read in part.

    Putting the records straight, the company stated the following:

    • 2014: Dangote signed $1billion agreement with FG or integrated rice production in Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa and Kwara
    • 2016: Started a multibillion naira Rice Outgrower Scheme over 8,000 hectares in Hadejia, Jigawa State
    • 2016: Created over 10,000 jobs (Direct and indirect) to farmers who are an integral part of the Rice Outgrower Scheme

    FARO 44 rice seeds distributed to farmers during the Outgrower Scheme was sourced from Africa Rice and certified by the National Agricultural Seeds Council.

    “The intent of this broadcast is to bring into disrepute the hard earned reputation of Dangote and the actualization of its vision of making Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production.

    “Moreover, with the ever watchful eagle eyes of organizations such as NAFDAC, SON, CPC with mandate to ensure food safety, how can a big organisation like Dangote import and flood the market with poisonous rice,” the group noted.

  • CPC, SON accuse manufacturers of short-changing consumers

    CPC, SON accuse manufacturers of short-changing consumers

    The Director General, Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria (CPC), Mrs. Dupe Atoki, has accused manufacturers and retailers of short-changing consumers by their failure to honour guarantee/warranty terms and abuse of consumer rights with ouster clauses such as ‘no refund of money after payment’ and ‘goods received in good condition cannot be returned’ on their receipts, while the DG, Standard of Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Paul Angya, wondered if the statement was in anticipation of a product failure.

    Both DGs made the allegations recently in Sheraton Lagos at the interactive forum of CPC with stakeholders on enforcement of warranty and guarantee on products and services.

    The DG, CPC, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, while addressing key industry operators in automobile, electrical/electronics, heavy duty equipment, on-line markets and superstores subsectors of the nation’s economy, regretted that Nigeria was the only country where such clauses are printed on receipts.

    “The situation in Nigeria is a sharp contrast as traders boldly print on purchase receipts terms like ‘no refund of money after payment’ and ‘goods received in good condition cannot be returned’. It is unacceptable that a producer, distributor or trader will attempt to completely vitiate the right of the consumer to redress by caveats of this nature.”

    Describing the situation as intolerable, Mrs. Atoki said that manufacturers and retailers will be given a time frame to remove the statements from their receipts warning that at the expiration of the time frame, the agency will come hard on those who refuse to comply.

    Expatiating, she said, “the statement should not be a blanket statement, it should be subjective. Take each situation and analyse it fundamentally,” adding that on the face value the product may look okay while it may have manufacturer’s defect which can only be detected when the buyer puts it to use.

    The CPC boss stated that “worse still is the fact that even multinational corporations that adhere strictly to the tenets of implied or specified guarantee and warranty in other countries, come up with all sorts of devices in Nigeria to renege on same.”

    While describing the situation as unacceptable, she advised businesses operating in the country to emulate their counterparts in other climes where “the concept of guarantee and warranty is taken for granted because manufacturers in those countries do not only strive to produce according to specifications, but also make after sales service an integral part of their marketing strategy.

    “As a result, businesses in such climes have clearly articulated policies on return, repair, replacement or refund of money for products which do not meet the expectation of consumers,” she added.

     The Director General observed that the almost non-existent after-sales service culture among businesses in Nigeria has denied Nigerian consumers of simple redress of their complaints without the intervention of the council.

    According to her, “it is a common occurrence to see businesses invent reasons to justify why consumers should not derive the desired benefits from their purchases,” noting further that “it is disheartening, for instance, to see a consumer purchase a product, which should serve for a number of years, but malfunctions after a few weeks, without any indication of support from the supplier.

    “In countries where consumer satisfaction is at the heart of business, such occurrences will trigger a spate of investigations to enable the producer unravel the real cause of the problem, with a view to forestalling same in future. But here in Nigeria, save for evidence of purchase receipts, some companies will go as far as disowning the product.”

    Atoki insisted that for abuse of consumer rights to be drastically contained in Nigeria, “businesses must, as a basic minimum, adhere to the tenets of guarantee and warranty.”

     She argued that “as government begins to push for diversification, which will lead to increased production, sustaining the interest of Nigerian consumers in made-in-Nigeria products will hinge on quality and entrenchment of guarantee and warranty in our business culture,” stating that “a poor quality product that fails to give value for money without consumer remedies will eventually lead to a closure of the business.

    “For government to successfully diversify the nation’s economy, businesses in Nigeria must work hard to earn the confidence of consumers, both home and abroad. However, consumer confidence can only be earned when businesses produce quality products and services and adopt best practices in their relationship with consumers, particularly with respect to ensuring value for money,” Atoki noted.

    The DG explained that the council’s meeting with the industry operators was “to deliberate on modalities for ensuring the sanctity of guarantee and warranty in the country,” advising the operators not to see the drive to entrench guarantee and warranty in the nation’s business culture as only a means at protecting consumer rights, but as “a push for the survival of businesses, as it will help to make Nigerian products and services competitive in the global marketplace.”

    Lending credence to what the CPC boss said, Dr. Paul Angya of SON lamented that retailers print ‘goods sold in good condition cannot be returned’ on receipts while wondering if “this is in anticipation of a product failure or a guarantee on the quality of a product.”

    Decrying the anomaly, the SON DG noted that the standards of product liability NIS 506, 2006 stipulates that suppliers of goods and services have the responsibility and obligation to ensure that defective products and services are not sold to consumers.

    Barrister Ken Ukaoha, President, National Association of Nigerian Traders[NANTs], in his address, regretted that traders are usually blamed when the terms of guarantee and warranty are not implemented.

    Noting that the traders are not necessarily the manufacturers, he emphasised that it is the manufacturers who can implement the warranty and not the traders.

    “Traders are just the intermediary and their roles should be clearly specified,” he said.

    However, he advised aggrieved consumers to always contact the market task force when they have any issue with a retailer. “If you have any problem, ask for the chairman of the market taskforce and if the problem is not resolved at this stage, contact the market chairman and if the case still persists, contact the NANTs headquarters or CPC.”

    Commending the CPC for organising such an interactive event, he said there was need for more of such programmes to encourage interactions between sellers and buyers.

  • CPC urges compliance with guarantee, warranty policy

    CPC urges compliance with guarantee, warranty policy

    The  Director-General, Consumer Protection Council  (CPC), Mrs. Dupe Atoki, has urged businesses to live up to the specified guarantee and warranty policy for the products and services they offer.

    Mrs. Atoki, who addressed key industry operators in automobile, electrical/electronics, heavy duty equipment, online markets and superstores subsectors of the economy yesterday at a meeting in Lagos, said the success of the drive of the country to diversify the economy would hinge on the quality of products and the entrenchment of guarantee and warranty in the country’s business culture.

    She stresed the Council’s commitment for the entrenchment and adoption of business cultures and also support government’s renewed drive to unbundle the  economy, but regretted that manufacturers and distributors have not only short-changed  consumers by their failure to honour their products or services’ implied guarantee or warranty, but have also abused consumer rights with ouster clauses, such as  “no refund of money after payment,” and “goods received in good condition cannot be returned” on their receipts.

    The CPC chief lamented that multinationals that uphold these tenets in their home countries have come short of implementing them in Nigeria.

    She said: “Worse still is the fact that even multinational corporations that adhere strictly to the tenets of implied, or specified guarantee and warranty in other countries, come up with all sorts of devices in Nigeria to renege on same.”

    Describing the situation as unacceptable, Mrs. Atoki advised businesses operating in the country to emulate their counterparts in other climes where “the concept of guarantee and warranty is taken for granted because manufacturers in those countries do not only strive to produce according to specifications, but also make after sales service an integral part of their marketing strategy.

    “As a result, businesses in such climes have clearly articulated policies on return, repair, replacement, or refund of money for products which do not meet the expectation of consumers”.

    She observed that the almost non-existent after sales service culture among businesses in Nigeria has denied consumers of simple redress of their complaints without the intervention of the Council. “It is a common occurrence to see businesses invent reasons to justify why consumers should not derive the desired benefits from their purchases,” she lamented, adding that it is disheartening for instance, “to see a consumer purchases a product, which should serve for a number of years, but malfunctions after a few weeks, without any indication of support from the supplier.

  • FG sues Turkish Airline over violation of CPC law

    The Federal Government has dragged the Turkish Airlines before a Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged violation of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) law and impunity.

    A statement signed by CPC, said the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), filed a three-count charge against the airline and two of its principal officers, Liker Ayci and Rasak Shobowale, the airline’s Board Chairman and Commercial Manager respectively before Federal High Court 11 in Abuja.

    The statement said, “The prosecution came on the heels of the consistent refusal of Turkish Airlines to respond to lawful requests of CPC for a full situation report on the airline’s alleged shoddy treatment of passengers of Flight 623 from Istanbul to Abuja on 25th and 31st of December 2015 and 9th of January 2016, which prompted the Council to approach the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for the prosecution of the airline.

    “According to the charge list with number FHC/ABJ/CR/147/21, the Federal Government alleged that the three accused persons between the 20th December 2015 and March 2016 without sufficient cause refused to provide the Consumer Protection Council documents on Turkish Airlines’ policy on delayed baggage, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 18 of the CPC Act.

    “The accused persons were also arraigned before the court for allegedly neglecting, without sufficient cause, to attend and testify before CPC on the number of passengers aboard Turkish Airlines Flight 623 from Istanbul to Abuja on 25th and 31st of December 2015 as well as 9th of January 2016, who were affected by its untimely delivery of baggage, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 18 of the CPC’s enabling law.

    “The Federal Government also accused the airline and its two principal officers of violating the same section of the CPC Act by neglecting, without sufficient cause, to attend and testify before the consumer protection agency on the detailed steps taken by the airline to provide redress and compensation to passengers aboard its Flight 623 from Istanbul to Abuja on the said dates, who were affected by its untimely delivery of baggage.

    “The prosecution of the airline and its principal officers followed warning by the Federal Government to the airline to respond within 21 days to the Consumer Protection Council’s request for full situation report on the airline’s alleged shoddy treatment of passengers of flight TK 623 of Sunday December 20, 2015 and other subsequent flights during the yuletide or face prosecution.”

    The AGF had, in a letter dated March 17, 2016, signed on his behalf by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Saidu Diri, threatened to prosecute the Turkish Airlines in the event of its failure to respond to the Council’s lawful demand for the full situation report, irrespective of the airline’s engagement with any other relevant agency.

  • CPC chiefs regroup in Abuja

    CPC chiefs regroup in Abuja

    One of the legacy parties that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC), the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), yesterday re-grouped in Abuja and pledged support to President Muhammadu Buhari.

     Some former state chairmen of the party from across the country met for several hours at Chelsea hotel.

      They urged the President to “remember the goose that laid the golden egg in the scheme of things”.

    In a communique at the end of the meeting, the former CPC leaders who said they were meeting under the auspices of Progressives Legacy Forum reminded the President of the brutalisation they suffered from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for 16 years.

    The communique signed the National Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Ahmed Dan Zago, reads: “”We, the undersigned are among the following members and original stakeholders of the movement of Buhari for President which dated back to year 2002, originating from the defunct All People’s Party (APP) which converted to All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and later metamorphosed to Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and finally merged with some other opposition political parties to form the present ruling party of the central government of Nigeria and in most states of the federation, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “The meeting of the Legacy Forum was convened to retrospectively congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari for the victory. The beautiful performance of  Mr. President so far is invigorating and highly encouraging . It is indeed this performance that made it compelling for us to convene the meeting in order to acknowledge and appreciate as a forum of original stakeholders and founding members of the Buhari Project.”

  • CPC names Aisha Buhari Consumer Ambassador

    CPC names Aisha Buhari Consumer Ambassador

    The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) flagged off its nationwide grassroots consumer awareness programme with the country’s womenfolk as part of the Council’s strategies in stemming consumer abuses in Nigeria.

    The Council, in line with this vision, has also named the Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, as Nigerian Consumer Ambassador for effective mobilisation of Nigerian women in the agency’s renewed crusade against consumer abuses in the country.

    The council, in taking its consumer education to the grassroots, has identified some platforms, such National Road Transport Unions, commercial motorcyclists, the National Orientation Agency, students’ bodies, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), Consumer Non-Governmental Organisations and women groups as veritable avenues for its nationwide grassroots sensitisation.

    CPC’s Director General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, who flagged off the sensitisation campaign for women groups while addressing the National Convention of the National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS) also made public CPC’s decision to name the President’s wife the Nigerian Consumer Ambassador.

    She said, “CPC decided to partner with the NCWS in its strive to achieve effective grassroots consumer awareness because of the vantage position of the womenfolk in typical market interactions.

    “Women constitute the largest consumer block, in the economy by virtue of their innate ability and God-given role of making purchase decisions as well as in catering for the needs of the family hence, they suffer the most abuse as consumers.”

    “The Council identified NCWS as an organisation that represents the entire strata of Nigerian women, particularly at the grassroots as part of her agency’s drive to drastically improve the level of consumer awareness in the country.”

  • What’s in a beer: As CPC, NB Plc collide

    What’s in a beer: As CPC, NB Plc collide

    Harmless as this question seems, the answer didn’t seem simple when a packed audience gathered to discuss the topic recently. It was a sort of beer summit, not the sort where men cackle and laugh in beer parlours but a sober one. Unlike revelers, the patrons in this case were egg heads from scientist, professionals, nutritionists, entertainers, to media professionals. Everything else was present but a bottle of beer.

    Interestingly, the place of rendezvous where the talk shop tagged: ‘‘Beer and Health, Beer and Life Style’ held was at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. Of course, the sponsor of the event was the brewery giant, Nigerian Breweries.

    But this article is not about the propriety or otherwise of the summit but about the outcome.

    Exactly 10 days after the beer symposium by the NB Plc, a press release from the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) with the screaming headline ‘‘CPC investigates NB over alleged health benefit claims of beer consumption,’ soon flooded the media space.

    The Council gave the NB 14 day ultimatum to substantiate the claims it made about the numerous benefits of beer as espoused in the summit.

    CPC hinged its argument on the fact that such claims were capable of luring unsuspecting consumers into unwholesome consumption of beer.

    Besides, the Consumer protector also stated that NB’s claims that beer is not an alcoholic beverage and that if taken regularly and in moderation has many defined nutritional and health benefits and can indeed be part of a healthy life style was flawed.

    However, after a careful perusal of the press statement, I flashed back to what happened not too long ago between the CPC and Nigerian Bottling Company [NBC]. When I say what happened, I mean both the published and unpublished intrigues that transpired between the two bodies.

    As one who has followed similar scenarios in the past, I wager it would be a disservice to the reading public if I chose to stand on the fence on this my decision to offer in my estimation is a modest submission.

    I have covered three symposia where I had the privilege of joining over 200 people who attended the beer academy where everything about beer from the raw ingredients to the finished products in the drinking glass was exposed to the participants.

    On the other hand, courtesy, of my beat, which is Consumer Affairs, I work closely with CPC, NAFDAC, MAN and other relevant government agencies. I also work with manufacturers, service providers, retailers and relate closely with consumers most of whom do not hesitate to react to issues on this page.

    We are all consumers and we go through one form of abuse or the other from service providers, manufacturers, retailers, etcetera. Every Nigerian is daily subjected to abuse. We thank God for the establishment of CPC because before then, we had nowhere to turn to but now for those aggrieved consumers who can be bothered we have CPC to run to.

    CPC has the right to investigate any manufacturer. In fact, it is one of their statutory rights.Part of their function is to seek ways and means of eliminating from the market hazardous products and causing offenders to replace such products with more appropriate alternatives, encourage trade, industry and professional associations to develop and enforce in their various fields quality standards designed to safeguard the interest of consumers, Issue guidelines to manufacturers, importers, dealers and wholesalers in relation to their obligation under the act.

    It is to the credit of the Council that despite their meagre resources and dearth of staff which are some of the challenges facing the Council, it is still able to make its voice heard in a country of over 180 million people.

    The Council made its first major impact in 2015, when it issued Volkswagen of Nigeria a seven days ultimatum to provide information on the status of its vehicles as regards the emissions of cheating software which is reported to have affected 11 million cars nationwide.

    The Council investigated the activities of VIP Express Tourism Limited, a Nigerian hospitality company upon receipt of complaints that the operations of the company is against the rights of their subscribers.

    Upon numerous complaints of subscribers of Digital Satellite Television [DSTV] in July 2015 the Council commenced investigative sittings into the operations of Multichoice Nigeria, the franchise owners of DSTV and was able just recently to bring it to a successful conclusion, to the delight of consumers.

    Another breakthrough is the addressing of some of the problems in the Telecommunication industry due to the collaboration between the Council and the Ministry of Communication though much more still needs to be done in that area. The CPC has also tried to tackle some of the consumer issues in the aviation industry.

    However, despite these achievements, analysts feel that CPC should collaborate with SON, NAFDAC and other government regulatory agencies and tackle the issues of the escalating adulterated and substandard products in the market instead of investigating NB that is doing more good than harm.

    It must be pointed out that at the three beer symposium held so far in Lagos, the key message being passed out by all the speakers, is “moderate drinking in order to benefit from the nutritional contents of beer”, which of course comes from the four ingredients used in beer making; hops, water, grains and yeast.

    The symposium is more of an eye opener. It can appropriately be described as an enlightenment and educative forum. An avenue to know everything needed to know about beer not about a brand. To clarify myths and facts on beer, the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption,educating you that whatever you consume determines your health.

    The symposium amongst other things, affords the opportunity for robust discussions on how to curtail excessive alcohol consumption and grants everyone in attendance the opportunity to clarify from experts any confusing issues on alcohol consumption.

    It is a myth for instance that drinking of beer induces what we call ‘beer belly’ but a fact that excess carbohydrate and calories is responsible for extruded tommy. It is a myth that one drink for the road clears the drivers head and makes him see better but a fact that alcohol consumption can dull a driver’s responses and instincts which will ultimately lead to an accident.

    No wonder on October 20th, 2014, NB in order to demonstrate its commitment to encourage responsible consumption of alcohol signed an MOU with the Federal Road Safety Commission [FRSC] on the ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’ safety awareness campaign with the specific aim of educating the Nigerian motoring public in traffic hazards associated with drink driving.

    At the last symposium, Nicolaas Vervelde, the NB Managing Director delivering his speech, aptly emphasised that “In all our communications, we continue to stress the importance of moderation and responsible consumption of beer. We will continue to emphasise this point because the wrong use or abuse of beer can indeed have undesirable consequences.”

  • CPC gives MultiChoice clean bill of health

    The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) yesterday patted MultiChoice Nigeria on the back for its compliance with all its orders given after the conclusion of its investigation into the activities of the firm.

    The Council also said its intervention into the activities of businesses through its sectoral investigation was to engender consumer confidence and make genuine businesses more profitable.

    Its  Director-General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, who spoke at a press conference jointly addressed by the Council and MultiChoice Nigeria in Lagos, said the conference “is a clear indication that if businesses will play by the rules and render satisfactory services to consumers, they will be validated by the CPC.”

    Mrs. Atoki, while describing the pay-Tv firm’s compliance as “a model”, said “the intervention of CPC in any business is not only to ensure consumer satisfaction by engendering value for money, but also has the long-term effect of instilling consumer confidence in products and services and making genuine businesses more profitable”.

    While commenting on the action on MultiChoice, she referred to a self-imposed maxim of “regulating without strangulating business”, adding that “the investigation of MultiChoice Nigeria embodies the win-win outcome that this maxim represents, as it gives consumers value for money and henceforth, projects the services of MultiChoice Nigeria in a better light.”

  • CPC advises Fashola on power firms

    CPC advises Fashola on power firms

    The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has carried its crusade against consumer abuses to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing,  Babatunde Fashola,  charging him to hold operators in power and housing sectors accountable to their contracts with consumers.

    Its Director-General,  Dupe Atoki, spoke during a visit to the Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Mr Babatunde Fashola in Abuja, stating that despite measures put in place by the electricity industry regulators to ensure effective service delivery, the Council still receives consumer complaints against operators in the sector.

    Atoki said: “Some of these complaints include non-metering of consumers, which results in estimated and arbitrary billing of a huge consumer population; non-supply of infrastructure requirements, such as transformers, electric poles and cables to some business units, thereby forcing consumers to pay for same without reimbursement; and irregular disconnection.

  • Group accuses CBN, CPC of ignoring plight of bank consumers

    Group accuses CBN, CPC of ignoring plight of bank consumers

    The chief regulator of commercial banks, the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] and the Consumer Protection Council [CPC] of Nigeria have been blamed for the various unauthorised deductions and fees levied bank consumers.

    These unjustifiable and unwarranted deductions from consumer accounts and fees that commercial bank consumers are forced to pay, according to speakers at a symposium organised by the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria [BJAN] to commemorate the World Consumer Rights Day [WCRD] is because the CBN and CPC have failed in their responsibility of protecting consumers.

    At the one day event held at GRA, Ikeja, on March, 15th, the Keynote Speaker, Public Relations Guru, Mr. Adetokunbo Modupe, Chairman TPT International, said that “banks for reasons such as greed, moral and professional bankruptcy have often chosen to be the proverbial dogs eating the meat kept in their care.”

    This action, said the PR consultant, has had adverse implications for CBN’s programme of financial inclusion as well as the volume of money outside the banking system and the effectiveness of monetary policy implementation.

    Accusing the CBN of failing in its responsibility of protecting the banking public and the CPC of not showing interest in the plight of bank customers, Adetokunbo wondered if the “EFCC should intervene in the obvious financial infraction or should we go to church like we usually do to pray to God to save us from the evils of Nigerian banks.”

    Speaking further, he said that there have been many complaints by bank customers of unauthorised and illegal charges, “such fleecing of the customers has become the rule than the exception.

    “The excesses come under different descriptions such as management fees, processing fees, interest charges, commission on turnover, card maintenance fees, account maintenance fees, deposit, withdrawal and telephone alert fees, ATM fees. Even the recently introduced stamp duty charge has become another source through which they commenced overcharging their customers. In one transaction, some banks send more than two text message alerts and charge for each,” lamented the keynote speaker.

    He thundered that “it is a regime of cheating that must be stopped” while he recalled that last year alone, “CBN investigated over 6,000 complaints from bank customers and compelled banks to refund the sum of over N6.2billion to affected customers.”

    Sola Salako, President, Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria, regretted that the Nigeria bank system is not programmed to look out for consumers or to protect them despite the fact that we have a regulator.

    Reacting to the new proposed CBN charges on bank consumers, “It shows that CBN is insensitive to the plight of consumers. Despite mounting consumer complaints on charges CBN is proposing more charges to be levied on the banking populace.

    “Everywhere in the world, when you automate a system, it becomes cheaper but not so in the Nigeria banking industry,” added the CAFON president.

    Speaking on the theme of the symposium, ‘Banking in Nigeria: Developments and Customer Challenges’, Mr. Goddie Ofose, BJAN national chairman, said it was chosen “as a result of the imbalance and accusation of consumer rights abuse against the players in the financial sector.”

    The BJAN national chairman urged consumers to begin to make leaders accountable, especially the regulatory agencies whom he pointed out are regulating without any one regulating them.

    “All of us should begin to work as campaigners against consumer right abuse,” advised Mr. Ofose while also stressing that “we should assist government by educating consumers on their rights and consumers too should always summon the courage to make complaints where and when necessary.”

    Furthermore, he called on regulatory agencies to work together “for instance, through collaboration between CPC and CBN or NAFDAC and CPC a lot could be achieved to save Nigerian consumers.”

    However, Mr. Uju. M. Ogubunka, the President, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria [BCAN], said the blame of the various abuses that the banking public are getting from banks should be passed to everyone and not just the regulatory agencies.

    “The problem is not about banks but consumers. How many of us know our rights? Many consumers do not know there is even a guide to bank charges. We are to blamed for being ignorant.”

    Cautioning people not to pass all bank customers woes on CBN and to refrain from making uninformed remarks on the issue he said “Banks may not have met all our needs but they are doing a lot. If other sectors in Nigeria can do half as what the banks are doing then we will have a better society.”

    He urged consumers to seek for more knowledge “as self protection is the greatest protection one can give to himself.”

    Noting the five new charges that the CBN is proposing to introduce, the president, BCAN, called on all consumers to familiarise themselves with the charges now and speak out concerning the charges.

    “Every bank consumer has the opportunity to speak and voice their resentments about the charges before they are implemented. CBN made it open for consumers to react to them before a final decision is taken on them. It is our responsibility to advice CBN when it is not getting it right and encourage when is doing a great job.”

    Meanwhile, CBN is proposing the introduction of five new charges on bank customers. These charges include a N50 charge on every cheque leaflet obtained and used at deposit money bank’s counters, A N100 per month maintenance charge on every debit [ATM] card. This is separate from the existing N65 charge after the 3rd withdrawal within the same month. If the card is not used in a month, N50 will be deducted.

    The regulatory body is also proposing a N4,200 per month charge on foreign currency denominated cards as maintenance fee. It is proposing a charge of a N100 on form A, which is used by students to apply for forex on school fees, medical bills and travel allowances.

    Also form M, which is predominantly used by manufacturers to import goods not on CBN prohibition list, is proposed to henceforth cost N1,000 in addition to maintenance fee on e-form platform in line with CBN directive.