Ogun Assembly Moves To Protect Consumers' Interest As Bill Scales Second Reading

Ogun State House of Assembly has begun consideration of a proposed bill seeking to establish the State Consumer Protection Agency, with the aim of protecting consumers’ interests, settlement of consumer disputes, to get value for their purchase and make producers of goods and services more responsible.

The Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Lukman Adeleye who is the sponsor of the bill,  led debate on the bill which has scaled through second reading

He  submitted that the bill was initiated to domesticate Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in the state, to entrench the rights and privileges of consumers, checkmate sales of hazardous items, tackle consumer exploitation, regulate price and ensure that consumers seek legal redress, if not satisfied with the quality of goods and services rendered

He added that the move would lessen economic hardship and burden on consumers.

Other lawmakers also took turns to speak in favour of the bill titled: "State Consumer Protection Law, 2024", at a Plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, at the state House of Assembly, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, pointing out that the bill was a right step to protect the interest of consumers.

The lawmakers, including Hons. Adebisi Oyedele, Babatunde Tella, Seun Adesanya and Adeyanju Adegoke, who cited instances of sales of adulterated products, which needed to be addressed headlong, decried sharp and unethical practices being perpetuated, stating that the bill when operational, would assist consumers in seeking legal redress when good or services did not meet their expectations.

 They commended the sponsor of the bill, describing it as legislation that would bring sanity into commercial activities in the state and lessen risks confronting consumers through fake products.

Responding, Speaker Elemide recalled for the proactive activities of consumer regulation, market and price control board in the past which helped sanitise commercial activities and later charged the bill to the Committee on Industry, Trade and Investment for further legislative action.