Imo Assembly establishes, passes into Law Bill on protection of consumers

The Imo State House of Assembly has passed a Law to Establish the Imo State Competition and Consumer Protection Council, which provides for the Protection of the Interest of Consumers, Settlement of Consumer Disputes and for other connected purposes, 2024.

The Bill which was sponsored by the Member Representing Oru West State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Dominic Ezerioha had earlier passed through first reading, second reading, and so went through the Committee of the Whole House on Wednesday during the House Plenary before it was passed.

Speaking to newsmen, the Oru West legislator, pointed out that the Bill calls for domestication of the Law in the state, as it is already existing at the Federal level.

He noted that it’s intent is not just to safeguard the lives of the people of the state, but also the people that are coming into the state as well.

Ezerioha continued that they have discovered that some people are parading fake and substandard products, food items, drugs, among others, adding that it is their responsibility as lawmakers to make laws that will protect the people from such.

The move he said, is also to safeguard the law that is already existing in the state in respect to that.

He continued, “There is need for the Consumers Protection Council CPC, to be saddled with this responsibility. Even though NAFDAC is there, but it is still pertinent for CPC to focus on protecting consumers, as it is their major duty to do so, which NAFDAC may not perfectly achieve’, Ezerioha asserted’.

He used the medium to congratulate the Director General of the State Consumer Protection, for what she is doing in ensuring that the people are protected from fake and expired products which according to him, is reflecting in many supermarkets where it is regulated.

After it was passed, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe directed the Clerk of the House to take a copy of the Bill to the governor for final assent.

It would be recalled that on the 24th of May, 2024, a public hearing was conducted in respect to the Bill where Civil Society Organizations, CPC, Staff of Ministry of Commerce and Industry, among others, were present to make their inputs on the Bill.