LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

There is a local reasoning ascribing honesty and diligence on both producer and consumer or buyer. The reason is not far-fetched. Commercial transaction is usually conceived as a spiritual relationship, requiring fairness and justice. Consequently, the laws on product liability ordinarily strive to promote the protection of the consumer from the harmful effect of defective and substandard products. There are times, where products fail to meet the required standard capable of ensuring fairness and justice. It is against this background, that the authors argued that the prevalence of laws and rules on consumer protection, ordinarily act as a push-drive and commends the propensity of putting the manufacturer on check against fake, substandard and adulterated products in the process of manufacturing goods. The authors further argued that the concept of consumer protection must be seen to revolve around enforceable remedies available to the ultimate consumer in the event of defective products and substandard goods. The paper demonstrated the need for the existence of regulatory bodies, inclusive of Standard Organization of Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the Consumer Protection Council, the Utilities Charges Commission, the National Insurance Commission, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, and etcetera, specifically created to provide a platform for regulating activities of the manufacturers against a defective product in the Nigerian market space. The authors therefore maintained that though some of the functions of the aforesaid bodies overlap, their operations have positively impacted on the consumer who is always at the receiving end, and at the same time, created consciousness on the manufacturers as to the standard expected of them in the manufacturing of goods and rendering of services.