Lagos Consumer Protection Agency Will Be Empowered To Protect Consumers’ Rights, Assembly Assures Stakeholders

Lagos State House of Assembly on Friday reiterated its determination to protect the right of consumers within the State, saying that the essence of repealing the extant law was to be in conformity with modern realities.

This was made known during the public hearing on “A Bill for a Law to Establish the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Provide for the Protection of the Interest of Consumers, Settlement of Consumer Disputes and for Connected Purposes.”

The event, which took place within the Assembly premises was attended by various stakeholders who believe the interest of the Lagos consumers should be strictly adhered to.

One of the stakeholders, who is a member of Provision Stores Association of Nigeria, Mr Wuraola Abdussalam urged members of the House to go to the markets and see things for themselves, saying a lot needed to be done in addressing the rights of consumers.

Abdussalam who spoke in Yoruba displayed some items to back his claim, adding that he had approached the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) over alleged counterfeit products for the past six months to address the complaint of his association.

While appealing to the State Government to come to the aid of Stores Owners Association, he alleged that the items were hazardous to the health of consumers.

He also alleged that it had been difficult for business owners to start up businesses, saying the interest of 15 percent on loan offered by the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund was too high.

Reacting, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, who spoke on behalf of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said, “We are not here so that you can praise us; we are here to look into your complaints. If any agency be it LASCOPA or any other one ia found wanting you can report and we will deal with them because we have the power to sanction anyone of them.”

He however cautined Abdussalam over his comment that LSETF collects 15 percent as interest on loans of N250,000 to start up a business, saying that he ought to get his facts right.

The Deputy Speaker explained that no agency of government in Lagos State, including LSETF, collects beyond 5 percent as administrative fee.

Also speaking on the allegation, the Leader of the House, Hon Sanai Agunbiade said that the claim by the complainant was not tenable.

Also, Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Hon. Bisi Yusuff clarified the issue.

He said, “I’m a good listener. For the purpose of clarity of were you attended to at LASCOPA or not?”

Abdussalam resaponded in the affirmative and with this, Yusuff said that the case had been settled.

Also responding, the GM of LASCOPA, Mr Afolabi Solebo admitted that, “The man was being economical with the truth. The matter he mentioned had been on ground for long and the manufacturers were invited and they came. Why should he come and tell members of the public that we didn’t handle it well.

“We told members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and marketers to make sure that the products coming into the state are verified as suitable for consumption.

“We attended to him as a consumer, I wonder why he is also here today to make the same claim. Under normal circumstances, some of those products are not supposed to be in the market,” the GM stated.

Chairman of LASCOPA, Mrs Funmi Falana had earlier commended the House for it’s proactive measure in repealing the law.

Falana however, pointed out that all bottled plastic drinks in the state should have their temperature conspicuously displayed for verification.

She also appealed that the Board of the Agency should include a representative of the National Agency for Foods, Drugs and Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to guard against hazardous products.

A representative of Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Mrs Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, Mrs Abimbola Jinadu said that clause 28, which deals with inspection should be looked into, saying that while on inspection, officers should give prior notice to the leadership of the market, especially if it would be an open market.

In the overview of the Bill, the Leader of the House, Agunbiade said, “clause 20 deals with complaint to the Agency. A complaint in relation to any goods sold, delivered or agreed to be sold or delivered, or any service provided or agreed to be provided may be filed with the Agency.

“In clause 21, the Agency on receipt of a complaint relating to goods shall refer a copy of the complaint to the person against whom the complaint is made, directing such person to make representations within a period of 14 days or such extended period not exceeding seven days.

“Clause 27, the Agency shall not admit a complaint unless it is filed within six months from the date, which the cause of action has arisen unless the complaint shows sufficient cause for not filing the complaint within the stipulated period.”

In clause 28, the Leader explained that an Inspection Officer on production of the certificate of designation could enter any premises for the purposes of conducting an investigation.

According to the Day Speaker of the House, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, the public hearing was meant to let stakeholders be aware that the House os treating the bill on the establishment Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency.

“We are glad that most of the invited guests turned up at the event.

“The regulation that would come after the bill would specify all the aspects of the bill and it would be in conformity with the criminal adminstration law,” he said.

However, the leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade explained that the Bill was meant to further empower the agency and give it more power to implement the law.

He said that everybody in Lagos State is a consumer and that it is meant to ensure that the consumers have benefits for the money they spend.

“Where they suspect that what they were given is not right, they have the right to complain.

“The law recommends that offices of the agency should be opened in all the local governments and where they cannot handle it they should go to the agency,” he said.

In an interview with newsmen, Chairman of the Committee on Commerce and Industry, Hon. Bisi Yusuff explained that, “The Bill is meant to protect the interest of the consumers and we will ensure that all the necessary things are done to ensure that the consumers are well protected.

“On the issues of prices of goods and services, we all know what is happening in Nigeria and we know that farmers are scared from going to their farms due to insecurity.

“So, prices of foods might not come down until security situation improves.

“Also, prices of good and services are determined by law of demand and supply,” he said.