(a) What is consumerism? (b) Give three reasons why consumers need protection. (c) State any five measures taken by government or associations to protect co...

Answer Details

(a) What is consumerism?

Consumerism is an organised movement of consumers, and of government and other bodies acting on their behalf, aimed at protecting the rights and interests of consumers against unfair, dishonest and harmful practices of producers and sellers.

(b) Three reasons why consumers need protection

• To protect them from the sale of harmful, adulterated, fake or expired goods that endanger health and life.
• To protect them from cheating through short weights, wrong measures, overpricing and hoarding by dishonest traders.
• To protect them from misleading and false advertising and from the ignorance that leaves the individual consumer weak against large producers.

(c) Five measures taken by government or associations to protect consumers in Nigeria

• Establishment of standards bodies: the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) sets and enforces quality standards for goods.
• Drug and food control: the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) tests and registers food, drugs and other products and bans fake ones.
• Consumer protection body: the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (formerly the Consumer Protection Council) receives and settles consumer complaints.
• Enactment of laws: government passes laws against adulteration, false advertising, hoarding and the sale of substandard goods, and enforces the use of correct weights and measures.
• Price control and consumer associations: government fixes prices of essential goods, while voluntary consumer associations educate the public and campaign for consumers' rights.