Sola Salako-Ajulo, a social critic, consummate consumer advocate and member, (representing Southwest) Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Co
Sola Salako-Ajulo, a social critic, consummate consumer advocate and member, (representing Southwest) Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Tribunal has released her new book, Protect Yourself: Your Naija Guide to Consumer Rights & Protection, a book which focuses on consumer protection and advocacy as the subject affect the Nigerian consumer. It is a simple, easy to read and detailed guide to empower you with knowledge of your consumer rights under the law, in multiple sectors, and also show you how to enforce those rights and get results!
Salako-Ajulo takes the reader into consumer rights through education and advocacy. The 174-page guide informs the reader about Nigeria’s core issues in consumer affairs.
The book’s 12 chapters include guidance on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, consumer rights, how to make complaints and get results, and how to complain to sector regulators.
It illuminates online activities in “Protecting Yourself Online” and examines “Safety in Banking Services”, Understanding Warranties and Guarantees and Protecting Your Rights in Aviation.
Electricity gets deserved attention in Chapter 9, “Protecting Your Rights in Electricity”.
Chapter 10 provides further guidance on “Sustainable Consumption”, while Chapter 11 advocates “Building a Culture of Consumer Awareness.”
The book ends with caution: “Stay Alert, Stay Protected.”
The author asserts that “knowing your rights can be the difference between being cheated and getting what you deserve. This book is here to give you the knowledge and confidence to navigate the consumer landscape like a pro, ensuring you never carry last in any transaction”.
In Nigeria, consumer rights are protected under various laws and regulations, which ensure that consumers are treated fairly and have access to essential information about goods and services. The primary frameworks governing these rights include the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and guidelines from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Protect Yourself delves into the laws guiding the operations of the FCCPA and NERC and various consumer rights issues.
Key Consumer Rights: General Consumer Rights under FCCPA
The FCCPA (2018) outlines several fundamental rights for consumers, which include:
• Right to Information: Consumers must receive information about products and services, including pricing and terms of sale, in clear and understandable language.
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• Right to Disclosure: Businesses must disclose prices and provide a written record of transactions to ensure transparency in their dealings.
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• Right to Quality Goods: Consumers must receive safe, high-quality goods suitable for their intended purpose.
• Right to Reject Goods: Consumers can reject goods that do not meet agreed-upon standards or descriptions before completing a transaction.
• Right to Fair Treatment: Consumers should not face coercion or unfair marketing practices when engaging with businesses.
Right to Safety: Any product or service you purchase should not cause you harm. Whether it is food, electronics, or even a simple water bottle, everything you buy should be safe to use.”
• Right to choose: You should have a variety of options. The market should be competitive, offering different products and services.
• Right to redress: If a product or service fails to meet the promised standard, you can seek redress. This means you can ask for a refund, replacement, or repair.
Specific Rights Related to Electricity Supply
The NERC also provides specific rights for electricity consumers in Nigeria:
1. Right to Connection: New connections must be metered before service is provided.
2. Right to Reliable Supply: Consumers are entitled to a safe and reliable electricity supply.
3. Right to Transparent Billing: Bills must be clear, and customers can contest any disputed charges.
4. Right to Complaint Resolution: Consumers can file complaints about service issues, which the service provider must address promptly.
Responsibilities of Consumers
Alongside rights, consumers also have responsibilities, such as:
• Paying for services used within stipulated time frames.
• Reporting any tampering with electrical installations.
• Keeping informed about their rights and obligations under the law.
Enforcement of Consumer Rights
Consumers whose rights have been violated can seek redress through various channels, including filing complaints with regulatory bodies like the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) or pursuing legal action in courts.
About the author
Salako-Ajulo with the sobriquet ConsumerMama is arguably one of the most vibrant and respectable voices in the Nigerian consumer advocacy space. She has been passionately working to empower consumers and ensure fair market practices in the country for over two decades.
As the founder of the Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON) which dates back to the 2000s and ConsumerMama.com, Sola has been pivotal in driving policy changes and enhancing consumer awareness.
Her dedication to the course of the Nigerian consumer has seen her taking up responsibilities on boards of government agencies in Lagos and Ekiti states to ensure fair deal for the consumer and transparency in Nigeria’s marketplace.
All these experiences have culminated into this defining book for the course of the consumer education and advocacy – ‘Protect Yourself’.
With same zeal, the author has taken it upon herself to write to intimate you, as a consumer on this development and new effort.
Her work has been recognised nationally and internationally, and she has received numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to consumer protection.
