Babatunde Irukera; Instilling Modest,Model Practice In FCCPC In This Era And Beyond.

 

The Federal Competition Consumer Protection Commission FCCPC has never had it so good until the appointment of Prince of Okun kingdom, Kogi state,Prince Babatunde Irukera as the Director General that suddenly changed the narrative and focus of the age long agency of government.

 

Before then,it was seen as an agency of government that merely bark but cannot bite,as it’s existence interms of statutory obligation only exist on the faces of different types of media of Communication.

 

This had conditioned the emotions of many Nigerians to the archaic practices of the previous Consumer Protection Council CPC,now elevated to a Commission, FCCPC, with a view to delivering the social contract between the agency and Nigerians.

Penultimate,the commission’s enforcement outlet were merely meant for complaints and documentation, with no concerted efforts to redeem or redress the anomaly or infringement meted out to many Nigerians, both in the areas of production,services, consumption and other essentials.

Not comfortable with the old order and norms,Prince Babatunde Irukera instill a robust system of postive action, decision and feedback to the satisfaction of both consumers,suppliers and their intermediaries.

This is done deploying the enabling legal provisions guiding the new Commission that the previous managers and handlers were not favourably disposed to, aimed at guaranteeing the protection of rights and priviledges of many Nigerians.

Irukera’s in his style of  leadership position at FCCPC. laudable progress has been made in resolving consumer issues, as can be seen in some key sectors like health care, electricity, banking, telecommunication, and aviation. Prior to his appointment as DG most people parochially see the mandate of the agency to be limited to consumer issues that came up from business transactions that pertain to tangible products only; without thinking of issues that came up from services.

Babatunde Irukera in his well thought programs and policies of driving the Commission ensured all hands are on deck, that prioritise customers complaints,customers rights,strategic monitoring of all products,supply chain and even to the point of consumption to avoid sharp practices.

The new Commission was also through legal exploration enabled to inspect both manufactured and finished products to avoid customers being at the mercy of the producers,suppliers and agents hitherto, being the practice before his ascension as the chief Executive Officer CEO of the Commission.

FCCPC with a renew zeal of adminstrative wisdom and commitement to duty from the new managers,gave a fresh orientation both to the consumers and the producers,to address their limitations and weakness,as well as the intervention of the enabling body.

His administrative wisdom and zeal to achieve results paid off during the maiden world recession that hit both developing and developed countries social and economic activities,as many Nigerians who were deliberately or otherwise shortchanged using the world economic downturn were protected by the Commission.

This was carried out with highly motivated staff ,with renew zeal of training and retraining to meet up with the current realities.

His attention to foreign made goods, particularly those imported from countries with questionable consumption of staple foods, attracted alot of commendation both from government and the entire country,by making efforts to disallow attempt to make Nigeria, a dumping ground for all sorts of foreign meals and products.

This is in addition to preparing the Commission ahead of the first wave of COVID-19, as the commission mulled for a healthy and good living through consumption of sane products devoid of foreign interference.

The intervention of the commission reduced to the barest minimum the effects of both economic recession and COVID-19 in second wave.

The introduction and rejigging of inspection unit of FCCPC,had standardise influx of foreign products into the country,as well as made the body a revenue generating status.

This is being done to avoid compromising standard of products,alteration, adulteration,packaging,re-packaging and all other forms of unhealthy practices.

The FCCPC in his new reorientation and zeal of perfomance, had left a legacy and mark of robust supervision, standardisation, monitoring, evaluation, inspection, and feedback to ensure a healthy and wealthy Nigeria.

Aside good legacies,it has also create a healthy rivalry among producers and industrialists, with efforts to improve on their products through competition.

This is also evidenced by numerous awards, bestowed on the leadership of FCCPC, by both foreign and indigenous bodies for a job well done, and as an encouragement to do more for Nigeria and by extension, institute a well thought out template of operation.

 

With his confirmation as the substantive CEO of FCCPC, alot will be expected of the leadership of Babatunde Irukera with a view to turning the Commission into a role model for many other enforcement Agencies in Nigeria.

 

Anastatia Enemali

for OBSERVERS TIMES.