The South South Zonal Coordinator of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC),Sir Chukwuma Uchegbu has reiterated the commitment of the Commission in the Zone under his watch to continue protecting the interest of consumers,with a view to ensuring fairness.
Uchegbu stated this Tuesday while briefing the Press on the activities of the Zone.
According to him,as a Zonal Coordinator,he is concerned with the visibility of the Commission in the Zone,hence the need to partner with the media, which he described as the voice of the people.
The Coordinator said the change in the name of FCCPC from Consumer Protection Council (CPC) by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration was to enhance their performance and expand their scope of operations.
He noted that the essence of competition is to discourage monopoly.
“Our duty is to protect the interest of consumers and ensure fairplay.
Our threshold is to break the stronghold of monopolists and ensure fairness in pricing,quality and quantity,”he said.
The Zonal Coordinator also told journalists that the current status of FCCPC enables it to be self-financed,while also remitting to the Federal Governnment what is due it.
He promised to regularly acquaint the press with its activities, stressing that identifying fake products in the market is one of the key responsibilities of FCCPC.
Uchegbu said the FCCPC frowns seriously at anti-consumer practice, citing the row the Commission had with a company in Abuja as a kind of stern measure the Commission can take against such act.
He warned dealers of consumer products in the South South Zone to be wary of their activities, pointing out that the Commission will soon commence enforcement and there shall be no sacred cow.
Speaking further,the Zonal Coordinator said FCCPC equally tackles price-gouging, that is, increasing the price of old stock because of upsurge in patronage,noting that under no circumstance should a product be sold more than the price it is tagged on the shelf.
Adding his voice,the Director legal of the Zone,Barr Nsitem Chizenum said the tribunal awaits any recalcitrant dealer that refuses to adhere to the 3r-widow of ‘repair,repay or replace’ after the consumer had complained to him.
He said the law is specific on the next step to be taken when a consumer must have lodged her complaint with the dealer without resolution. ##
Pix: Mr Chukwuma Uchegbu,Zonal Coordinator South South,FCCPC during the chat in PH
