ROLE OF NAFDAC AND APCON IN THE CONSUMERISM IN NIGERIA

ROLE OF NAFDAC AND APCON IN THE CONSUMERISM IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT.

I embarked upon this study because of the increasing need to protect the interest of all consumes in Nigeria with the specific tonus on the role of national agency for food and drugs Administration and control and the advertising practitioners council of Nigeria if these too bodies carryout their duties diligently and effectively the rights of consumer should be highly protected by reducing unethical behaviour

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Business exists primarily to earn profit. In order to achieve this goal, it will seek to serve some identifiable needs of some definable consumer, without consumers there would not be business because effective demand is desire back by ability to pay. Consumers are therefore an important societal group towards when business must believe responsibly.

While consumers are important to business they are organized to countervail against business practices that are harmful or exploitative of them in relation to business consumers stand like labour in relation to management. Traditionally, the business are free to make and marketing any product and or service provided. It is not also allowed to price them in ways that enable them to maximize profit

In 1962, the president of the united state America.(U.S.A),John F.Kennedy(late)listed consumer’s right to include:

1 The right to choice from a range of brand of product and services

2. The right to be informed of important fact about hazards and durability 3.The right to be heard by business and government to make complaints or suggestion and to ask question.

4.The right to be safe when using products and in the united state there arose the consumer movement in reaction to abuses by business, in the 1960’s and 1970’s consumers were dissatisfied with defective or unsafe products fraudulent claims and careless repair work. This resulted in the consumers product safety commission in 1972 (U.S).

Such concerns were felt in Nigeria and have let the government regulation of business to protect consumer. In the 1970’s government set up such bodies as the productivity, Today’s there are more such bodies among the National Agency for food and Drug Administration and control (NAFDAC). Federal Road commission, public complaint commission etc

The private sector also has watch dog bodies

Such as Advertising practitioner’s council of Nigeria(APCOW), THE Nigeria medial and Dental council, the Nigeria Bar Association and so on.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.

Whereas it is proper to have watch dog bodies, it is the relationship between these bodies and business that ensure the production of consumers. Two important consumers right are the right to safe products and services to be what they are represented to be by the business which is selling it.

NAFDAC Certified food and drugs as fit for human consumption, while Apcon ensure that advertisements are not deceptive or unethical. The problem of the study is to establish the process by which these two bodies fulfill their mission and how consumers get assurances.

ROLE OF NAFDAC AND APCON IN THE CONSUMERISM IN NIGERIA