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Tag: CPC

  • NCC, Consumer Protection Council meet to investigate call masking

    The Nigerian Communications Commission and the Consumer Protection Council held a meeting on July 2nd, to investigate call masking in Nigeria on the directive of the National Assembly.

    TheNewsGuru reports the meeting was also to review the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two government organizations and discuss how to work together to improve complaints resolution of telecommunications consumers.

    Speaking at the meeting, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta said masking of calls with another number, especially international calls is a matter that has been trending and the NCC has been directed to address it as it has security implications.

    Professor Danbatta said “The office of the National Security Adviser had directed the NCC to put in place, measures that will contain this menace even before the directive from the National Assembly to the NCC and the CPC.

    “We have resolved to set up a joint committee to investigate call masking and filing and conclude within a month, and I am very happy with the outcome of the meeting.

    “What has happened today is a testimony to an important item on NCC’s 8-point agenda which is strategic collaborations and partnerships with other agencies of government”

    Babatunde Irukera, Director General, Consumer Protection Council said the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss consumer protection with respect to the telecommunications industry.

    Irukera said: “it was a very productive meeting and few key things we agreed on is that the CPC needs a good number of guidelines, directions, regulations and initiatives of the Consumer Affairs Bureau of the NCC, with respect to addressing consumer issues.

    “We are looking to concluding and existing negotiation on an MOU that will define on how our relationship goes going forward, and we will open a mutual investigation into quality of consumer experiences in the telecommunications industry, to address a lot of consumer issues.”

    The Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, Sunday Dare, stated that NCC’s journey with the CPC started many years back with previous MOU’s.
    “We been trying to review the MOU for some months and we’ve come to the final part of it, and what has happened today is to make sure we create the kind of synergy that we need to go forward to protect the consumers”, he said.

    He reiterated that the NCC under the leadership of Professor UG Danbatta prioritizes protecting, informing and educating the 154 million telecoms subscribers in Nigeria through various ways, including the interagency collaboration with other organizations, such as the CPC, that have a mandate to protect consumers across the country.

     

  • CPC laud NAFDAC actions on abuse of codeine

    Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has commended the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for its decisive regulations, actions on production and distribution of Codeine.

    Director-General of the council, Mr Babatunde Irukera, made the commendation in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    Irukera said that the council welcomed all meaningful efforts to address the rising cases of “abusive consumption of controlled substances’’.

    He revealed the council on April 10, issued an “Advisory’’ that publicly called for a ban and prohibition on the prescription of cough medication containing Codeine.

    However, Irukera said the outright ban of the product by NAFDAC was commendable.

    “Protecting citizens’ addiction and the harm done by abuse of controlled substances must remain a priority always, to the exclusion and sometimes, at the expense of commercial considerations.

    “The council will deploy its entire apparatus and resources to support NAFDAC, Ministry of Health, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and other relevant agencies to enforce this ban.

    “It will deploy resources to also prevent access to codeine and similar addictive substances.

    “The council advocates and encourages a strong and zero tolerance approach to access distribution or proliferation of these substances or any combination of chemical properties that have similar effect.

    “We will also ensure that production and availability of legitimate medication remain inviolate and uncompromised,” Irukera said.

    NAN

  • Consume codeine illegally, go to jail – CPC

    The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has warned that illegal possession and consumption of codeine related drugs attracts severe sanctions.

    The council said in a statement that dispensing, possessing and consuming expectorants and cough syrups containing codeine and other illegal drugs was criminal and may subject offenders to apprehension, detention and prosecution.

    Mr Babatunde Irukera, the Director-General of CPC, issued the warning in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

    The director-general said the warning was issued pursuant to Sections 2(c), (e), and (j), Consumer Protection Council Act 2004.

    Irukera said offenders may be apprehended, detained and prosecuted by the council or the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), adding that upon conviction, the offender could be sentenced to a term of imprisonment.

    He said CPC had advised that cough medication with codeine should be prescribed, dispensed and administered in an abundance of caution.

    He added that codeine should be administered only in strict compliance with professional medical direction, and in any case not prescribed for, dispensed to, or administered to minors.

    The director-general, however, noted that National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), while exercising its regulatory functions, said expectorants/cough syrups containing codeine might not be dispensed as non-prescriptive Over the Counter (OTC) medication.

    “As such, it is illegal and a violation of law to attempt to purchase, purchase, as well as dispense any such medication, except exclusively in accordance with prescription by a qualified and legitimate medical practitioner.

    “Any possession, delivery or provision of these medications in the absence of a prescription, or legal acquisition but dispensing to a person other than whom it is specifically prescribed for, is a violation of law,’’ he said.

    He added that the illegal possession of codeine also constitutes drug abuse, and presents significant medical risks including possible injury, risky behaviour, addiction and in extreme cases (especially paediatrics), fatality.

    Irukera said codeine is an opiate and one of many in the opioids family.

    He added that codeine is, therefore, classified as a narcotic substance, although not an illegal drug.

    “Codeine is largely used as a pain reliever and cough suppressant. As such, it is an active ingredient in some expectorants or cough syrups.

    “Codeine is implicated in serious adverse effects when taken with, or contemporaneously with alcohol or carbonated drinks.

    “These methods of mixtures negatively interact and have become a serious and dangerous pattern which pose significant risks of debilitating side effects including respiratory difficulties, nervous system deficiencies and mental impairment,’’ he said.

    He said emerging medical and regulatory preference was to prohibit prescription of cough medication containing codeine to minors because of its properties and propensity to promote addiction and other exposure to illegal drug use.

  • CPC makes inquiry into Blue Band product

    CPC makes inquiry into Blue Band product

    The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) says it has opened an inquiry into aspects of Blue Band products.

    It stated that the inquiry would determine product safety and clarify some aspects of the manufacturer’s statements on Blue Band “Spread for Bread”.

    The CPC Director General, Mr Babatunde Irukera, said this in a statement issued by the organisation on Sunday in Abuja,

    He said that the purpose of the inquiry was to ensure that the products, differentiated or otherwise, were safe and subjected to proper processes and “in-trade” handling consistent with the different properties and characteristics of each product.

    This is in reaction to a short demonstration video on social media showing how Blue Band “Spread for Bread” reacts under certain heat conditions.

    He said that the video or the impression it conveyed had become the subject of anxiety and intense controversy.

    “It suggests that the product, which the narrator considers a functional equivalent of “Blue Band Original”, is unsafe because when subjected to high temperature in boiling water, it did not melt or dissolve.

    “Available scientific information confirms that though butter, margarine and spread appear similar and share similar components, in characteristics and uses, they are different products available to consumers.

    “Butter and margarine share a particular similar characteristic, low resistance to heat, and as such both are likely to melt when subjected to certain levels of heat.”

    Irukera, however, said that spreads had varying heat resistance, depending on intended use and production process.

    He said that as a result, it could not be necessarily unsafe that a spread does not melt under similar heat conditions as butter or margarine.

    He said spreads were produced in part by adding emulsifiers which we’re additives used in stabilizing and binding processed foods.

    “They are not inherently unsafe or uncommon. The specific emulsifying agent and amount used largely depends on many factors including shelf life, storage, handling and climatic conditions in order to prevent microbial activity.”

    Irukera said that the manufacturer of the product had made a statement seeking to address public concern by differentiating its products and explaining the purposes of the two different products.

    He also said that the organisation would continue to collaborate with the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) regarding applicable safety standards of butter and margarine.

    He added that consumption of butter, margarine or spreads generally are not unsafe.

     

  • Aviation sector complaints third highest in 2017 – CPC

    The Director General of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Babatunde Irukera, on Sunday said that the council received the third highest number of complaints in 2017 from the Aviation Sector.

    Irukera made the disclosure while speaking with journalists in Lagos.

    He said the sector came after Telecommunications and Banking sectors which had the first and second highest number of consumer complaints respectively.

    “According to the National Bureau of Statistics, about 15 million passengers passed through Nigerian airports in 2016 and 2.5 million passengers were recorded in the first quarter of 2017 alone.

    “In 2017, the aviation sector had the third highest number of complaints received by the council.

    “Given the consumer base of the sector and the propensity for consumer satisfaction concerns, the council cannot relent in its efforts to ensure that consumer interests are well protected, “Irukera said.

    The director general noted that complaints such as flight delays and cancellations as well as safety concerns must therefore be addressed in order to minimise their occurrences.

    He explained that the intervention of CPC in the aviation sector was not aimed at usurping the job of the Consumer Protection Directorate (CPD) of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    He said the CPC Act empowers the council to protect the rights of consumers, stressing that this statutory responsibility cuts across all sectors of the economy.

    “Section 14 of the Act provides for the council’s collaboration with industry and sector regulators. This is a key tool for regulating rights across board.

    “This jurisdictional overlap is by design and calls for regulatory collaboration. This is an indication of the importance the government has attached to the issue of consumer protection, “he said.

    Irukera said the CPC had regularly engaged airline operators and would continue to collaborate with the NCAA to ensure the protection of the rights of consumers.

     

  • CPC to investigate content of sachet milk, other products

    The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has revealed concluding arrangement to commence investigation into the actual grammage of sachet goods against what is obtainable in the markets.

    Abiodun Obimuyiwa, a Deputy Director in the CPC made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Sunday following complaints by consumers.

    He said that consumers had complained that they were being shortchanged by various companies.

    “Information reaching our offices showed that consumers feel shortchanged with goods purchased with their hard-earned money,’’ he said.

    Obimuyiwa assured consumers that companies found wanting after the investigation would be sanctioned accordingly.

    “If 20 grams is indicated on the sachet of a product, then its quantity must measure up to expectation,’’ he said.

    He said that CPC’s major concern was to ensure that consumers get value for their money, noting that something must be done about the concerns of the common man.

    However, some Lagosians had told NAN of their concerns about the suspected rip off.

    A medical practitioner, Foluwakemi Ekiogawe, told said that the content of sachet products, especially milk had drastically reduced when compared with what was obtainable years ago.

    “The content of milk has really gone down meanwhile the price has gone up and I just cannot understand why that is so,’’ she said.

    A housewife, Abigail Ogunsola, expressed worry over the ever-increasing cost of detergent without the commensurate quantity in line with the cost.

    “I just do not think I am getting value for my money as before, you know what is happening, N150 worth of detergent cannot wash a small basin of clothes.

    “Something needs to be done to alleviate the suffering of the masses,’’ Ogunsola said.

    A cleaner, Tolani Idowu, decried the quality and type of liquid antiseptic sold in the market today.

    “It used to easily turn whitish when a few drops were poured into water but the reverse is the case these days even among the popular products.

    “I am concerned because I do not know if the potency of the product has been compromised,’’ she said.

    Sola Salako-Ajulo, founder of Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), told NAN that some companies, in a bid to meet up with the economic situation were guilty of the practice of reducing the quantity against what is indicated on the sachet.

    Salako-Ajulo, however, condemned the act saying that it was unfair and dubious because it should be indicated if the grammage is reduced so that consumers know what value they are getting for their money.

    The CAFON founder encouraged consumers who felt cheated to bring such observation to the notice of the consumer protection agencies.

    “Lagos Sate has an agency known as the Consumer Protection Agency and they have the professional capacity to verify such claims by carrying out professional evaluation.

    “Nobody will blame you if you reduce the quantity of a good and the price remains the same or get higher; that is a function of the economy.

    “It is not right to pass it off as the same quantity when it is not,’’ she said.

     

  • Dana Air: CPC demands responsive action for passengers

    The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has directed Dana Airline to provide necessary logistics support to affected passengers on its Airlines Flight 9J0363, which veered off the runway in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    The Director-General of CPC, Mr Babatunde Irukera in a statement, said he had contacted DANA air management and had come to an understanding that the Airline would provide logistic support and accommodation to affected passengers.

    He said that this was in compliance with minimum standards in accordance with prevailing Regulations under Part 19, Nigerian Civil Aviation Rules (NCAR).

    Irukera commended airport officials’ prompt response to the mishap and safe evacuation and management of what could otherwise have been a tragic event.

    “Dana Airlines Flight 9J0363 operating from Abuja to Port-Harcourt on Feb. 20, 2018, landed at approximately 19:30hrs and overshot the runway.

    “Cause of incident still unknown but under investigation. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) have been notified and already in control.

    “The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) secured perimeter scene of incident. There were 50 Souls On Board (SOB) made up of 44 passengers and 6 crew.

    “Thankfully, all passengers and crew were safely evacuated without injury,” he said.

    Irukera called for calm as they awaited more information and a detailed investigation by the Accident Investigation Bureau.

    “An open, transparent, sensitive and responsive approach by the airline and relevant authorities is vital to sustaining confidence and assuring consumers.

    ” The Council welcomes this openness and attention to consumers, including providing medical or psychological support where necessary.

    “The CPC, in collaboration with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, remains available to all passengers in the sector to answer questions, provide assistance and assurances at this and other times,” he said.

    Irukera urged members of the public to call the CPC on 08056003030 and 08056002020 or email to contact@cpc.gov.ng and by Twitter at @cpcnig for complaints.

     

  • CPC secures N17m judgment against Coca-Cola

    CPC secures N17m judgment against Coca-Cola

    The Director General of Consumers Protection Council (CPC) Mr. Babatunde Irukera has secured a N17 million judgment against Coca-Cola International Company at the Supreme Court for wrongfully terminating the employment of a Nigerian, Mrs. Titilayo Akisanya.

    In the judgment delivered on June 30, 2017, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal to the effect that the Court of Appeal is the final arbiter in employment, trade and labour related matters adjudicated upon by the National Industrial Court (NIC).

    Again, the Supreme Court, in interpreting Section 254(C)(1) of the Third Alteration Act to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) also held that the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court (NIC) extends to all employment-related disputes including private employment contracts.

    Mr. Irukera took up the case of Mrs. Akisanya on February 10, 2012, when he filed a civil action before the NIC, Lagos, challenging her wrongful dismissal by Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd. Mr. Irukera was then a Partner in SimmonsCoopers Partners, a reputable law firm in Nigeria that had the acting President, Pro. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) as its Principal Partner.

    SimmonCoopers Partners is renowned for representing individuals, corporations and government in public interest litigation. The law firm successfully challenged Pfizer, an international pharmaceutical company over its testing of an antibiotic drug (Trovan) in Kano State, Nigeria, a situation that led to over 100 children developing meningitis. The firm also successfully represented about one million investors in a significant securities litigation arising from the First Bank of Nigeria Hybrid Offer of 2007.

    The respondents employed Akisanya as Human Resources Manager on December 11, 2001. In May 2007, she was promoted as the Human Resources Director, Commercial Product Supply (CPS) Pan Africa, while she still doubled as the Human Resources Manager at its Ota, Ogun State Plant.

    In the claim she filed before the National Industrial Court, she claimed that she received several awards and commendations for her industry and significant contributions to the growth of the company in the course of her duties.

    Things, however, turned sour when, in the course of her duties, she incurred some travel costs and expenses, which she submitted for reimbursement. The travel expenses were however not paid to her despite repeated demands. Rather than paying her, Mrs. Akisanya was directed to forward the original copies of the expenses to the corporate auditors of the company. She complied. She was later invited to a meeting with the internal auditors of Coca Cola.

    At the meeting, she answered the questions posed to her by the auditors and even promised to send a detailed report to them. She promptly submitted her written report to the audit panel. The panel advised her to wait for their report, which they would send to the ethics and compliance (ECC). She did not get a response from the ECC, neither was she shown the final report of the audit panel.

    The next move she got from the company was a letter dismissing her from the employment of the company. The later was dated December 6, 2010. Mr. Sheriff Tobala signed the letter on behalf of the company. She was accused of violating the company’s code of business conduct by submitting non-business related expenses for reimbursement and disclosing company’s confidential information to a third party.

  • SIM swap: NCC plans new guidelines amidst process lapses

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, is set to come up with a new guideline that will harmonize the processes and procedures for Subscribers Identification Module (SIM) swaps across all networks.

    The decision followed various complaints by subscribers over unauthorized SIM swaps by service providers and fraudulent activities emanating from such exercise, all of which will stop if the new guideline comes into effect.

    Head, Legal and Regulatory Services, NCC, Mrs Yetunde Akinloye, who stated this at the Telecoms Consumer Parliament in Abuja, said the Commission had received so many complaints from the public on unauthorized SIM swap, adding that in some cases, some nefarious activities were carried out with such SIM Cards.

    She said that a taskforce has been set up between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the lender of last resort, and NCC to look into some of the issues with a view to finding solutions to them.

    She said: “CBN is the banking regulator that is why we have entered into this taskforce with them so that between us and the CBN, we can find solution to this matter”.

    “There was a situation that was brought to our attention where a subscriber was having issues with his number and thought that it was a network issue, but by the time he discovered what was happening, about N4 million had been taken out of his bank account.

    “The person is resident here in Abuja, while the money was taken away from Kano, and he has never been to Kano, so there is no way this would have been done without the connivance of an insider.

    “We discovered that right now, the procedure for SIM swap differs from one operator to the other and we want to standardize how SIM Swap is done,” she added.

    Akinloye also said there were pending Bills at the National Assembly aimed at addressing the problem of unsolicited massages, which subscribers are constantly subjected to.

    A representative of the Consumer Protection Council, (CPC), Shamm Kolo, had earlier identified some of the major complaints brought to Council by consumers to include unauthorized SIM Swap, unsolicited caller tunes and music religious massages, lotto, and promos which are being forced on consumers, which they find difficult to opt out of.

    Also at the event, telecoms subscribers complained that in spite of the introduction of the 2442 “Do Not Disturb (DND) code by the NCC, they are still being inundated with unsolicited massages by the service providers.

    One of the subscribers, Miss Eyitayo Oladokun, complained that even after activating the DND code, she still receives a lot of unsolicited massages from her service provider.

    Responding to some of the complaints, a representative of MTN, Adamu Abubakar, explained that some subscribers find it difficult to opt out either because they are using handsets that are not meant for the Nigerian market or as a result of wrong code activation.

  • CPC set to curb abuse of rights of insurance consumers

    CPC set to curb abuse of rights of insurance consumers

    The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) on Saturday said efforts were being put in place to curb the abuse of the rights of insurance consumers in the country.

    The Director General of CPC, Mrs Dupe Atoki said this at the ongoing Annual National Insurance Consumers’ Colloquium held in conjunction with Pastures Consult Ltd. and Dividend in Lagos.

    The theme of colloquium is “100 Years After: Is Insurance Working in Nigeria?’’

    She said that the council would not expose such efforts at the colloquium, adding that the council had gathered that consumers were faced with numerous challenges.

    According to her, the challenges include sale of fake insurance policies, incessant delays in payment of claims among others.

    Atoki, who was represented by her deputy, Mr Joshua Yakubu said that the council would develop synergy with insurance consumers and regulators for a common ground in dealing with already identified challenges.

    She, however, enjoined every Nigerian to get involved in insurance policies not for personal reasons alone but for national prosperity.

    Mr Jude Modilim, the Group Head, Energy and Special Risk of International Energy Insurance Plc, who spoke on the economic importance of insurance to national development, said that the industry needed to combat low awareness of insurance in the country.

    Modilim urged practitioners to embrace consumerism, which meant that consumers’ interest should always be promoted.

    “Once the citizens are conscious of insurance, national growth and development will be rapid.

    “This is because insurance goes beyond providing security, insurance generates financial resources for investment in bonds. It is also an important source of capital formation,’’ he said.

    Mr Toke Falana, who delivered a lecture on “Enforcement of Insurance and Insurance Related Laws “ said that the country needed to do more by investing in education, health and other social insurance.

    Section 14 (2b) of the Constitution provides that the welfare and security of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government

    “Nigeria with all abundant resources has not been able to insure the life of her people by investing in education, health and other social services,“ he said.

    He said that the insurance laws applicable in the country were deficient in many areas because the rights guaranteed by those laws are usually breached with impunity.

    “Importantly, I would conclude by calling on insurers to ensure that claims are paid promptly by insurance companies.

    “The government also needs to execute some provisions in insurance laws and embark on enlightening programmes for citizens to appreciate the benefits of insurance,“ he said.

    One of the participants, Gabriel Offor, commended the organisers for putting the colloquium together.

    According to Offor, all stakeholders in the industry have a role to play as everything must be transparent.

    The Annual National Insurance Consumers’ Colloquium is a platform for an in-depth discussion and a means of taking practical steps in dealing with and managing the various challenges concerning insurance consumers.