NECA decries duplication of regulations by federal agencies

Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) is seeking the intervention of the Presidency over what it describes as duplication of regulations by the various federal agencies, a development it says places heavy burden on businesses.

Segun Oshinowo, director-general of employers’ body, speaking on this, Thursday, particularly drew the attention of the Federal Government to the activities of Consumer Protection Council (CPC), which he said had gone out of its mandate, to take the role of other regulatory agencies.

“We have noted with deep concern, the recent predatory activities of the current leadership of CPC, which could stifle the growth of existing businesses and scare off potential investors. These activities are: duplication of regulatory roles: CPC performing roles already being carried out by other agencies of government, arrogant spurning of social dialogue by the CPC to resolve issues and the use of obnoxious regulations with all-encompassing powers to perpetrate unlawful activities in the name of government,” Oshinowo said.

Oshinowo averred “the CPC has been acting ultra vires, and in spite of ongoing court action against the CPC, the body has continued to usurp the responsibilities of other agencies with the primary responsibilities to protect consumers in their sector.”

He equally deplored the sensationalism of CPC, whereby in the name of dialogue it would always parade enterprises and engage in dialogue in the full glare of the media.

The director-general said “we will not accept CPC’s gestapo approach at territory grappling and relevance seeking by performing roles already being carried out by other agencies of government such as National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

“The latest inordinate foray of the CPC is into the electricity sector, an action contrary to the provisions of the Electric Power Reform Act, 2005, that vested the regulation of operators in the sector on NERC, which has the primary responsibility to regulate and protect the interest of all stakeholders, including consumers, in that sector.

“Organised businesses are opposed to duplication of regulatory roles and as such, we do not subscribe to the CPC performing roles already being carried out by other agencies of government.”

NECA accused the CPC of blatantly rebuffing every attempt by the organised private sector through its representative bodies like NECA to engage it in social dialogue in order to explore ways of ensuring that it carries out its mandate in a civil and decent manner.

Oshinowo urged the government to call the agency to order as it has become an embarrassment to the “New Nigeria,” the administration is labouring to build, which forbids impunity as being displayed by the CPC.