Consumer Protection

Concept Note

Theme: Consumer Protection Amidst the Pandemic – Business and Human Rights Implication

Date: 28^th August 2020

Time: 11:00 A.M

Duration: 2 Hours

Venue: Webinar (Online)

Introduction

As the current pandemic lingers, there are escalating concerns over the inclinations by businesses to continue to abuse consumer protection law and competitive practices through the unjust, unfair, unjustifiable, unconscionable, unreasonable and unlawful increment of prices of goods and services contrary to existing laws. Even with the relaxation of the restrictive measures on the movement of people, goods and services, uncertainties still befall consumers – rights, protection, and our collective welfare. For instance, all items inflation rate (Year on Change) was 12.34% in April, then 12.40% in May yet rose to 12.56% in June according the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) even after most restrictive measures have been relaxed.

Thus, the Consumer and Competition Commission together with other relevant stakeholders must ensure those uncertain plights are assuaged, if not completely obliterated. This webinar will exhaustively discuss the human rights implications of Price Gouging, Price-fixing and/or Conspiracy as provided for in the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (“FCCP ACT”). Discussions will bother on guidelines for consumer protection during Covid-19, how human rights have been affected particularly during this pandemic, global trends implemented measures of consumer protection frameworks, immediate actions that can be taken when there is a violation of consumer rights, and dealing with the immediate impacts of the crisis on regulators due to gaps in enforcing legal and supervisory guidelines.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

To understand the Human Rights Implications of Consumer Protection Amidst Covid-19.
To examine Consumer Protection Mechanisms during and after the Pandemic
To outline the Risk Exposures for Businesses, as well and Benefits for complying with Consumer Protection and Human Rights Guidelines.
To keep abreast with global efforts on the call to focus on the Protection of Consumer Rights

SPEAKERS/DISCUSSANTS

Opening Remarks: Mr. Anthony Ojukwu Esq. – Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria (NHRC)

Welcome: Dr Rita Ozoemena – Coordinator, Legal Services, Free State Centre for Human Rights, South Africa; Executive Secretary, IN-CSR

Keynote: Mr. Babatunde Irukera – Chief Executive, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Nigeria (FCCPC)

Topic: The Impact of COVID-19 on Consumer Rights in Nigeria – Protection and Enforcement Mechanisms

Ajibola Olude, Executive Secretary, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON)

Topic: The Role of Telecommunications Companies in Protecting Consumer Rights

Eustace Onuegbu – President, International Network for Corporate Social Responsibility (IN-CSR) and West African Representative, Business and Human Rights Working Group (U.N. Recognised)

Topic: The Intersection Between Corporate Sustainability, Consumer Protection and Human Rights