BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has vowed sustained media engagement on competition and consumer protection issues, which helped Nigerians become more familiar with the agency.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, Tunji Bello stated this when he received executive members of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He highlighted the role of the media in increasing public awareness of the commission and its activities, adding that many Nigerians were largely unaware of the FCCPC until recent years.
Bello commended journalists for assisting to raise its public profile, adding that the commission would consider the association’s request for training and further engagement.
He said: “If FCCPC is becoming more known to the public, it is as a result of the kind of publicity you have given us. When something happens here, and we issue a statement, it often receives front-page treatment, and we do not take that for granted.
“Competition reporting is indeed new in our jurisdiction,” he said, promising the association that its request for training and engagement would receive due consideration and be followed up appropriately.”
The EVC reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to supporting stakeholders within its available resources, saying that the agency funds major aspects of its operations, including litigation, staff welfare and regulatory activities, from internally generated revenue.
Bello, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner for Operations, Louis Odion, recognised the importance of equipping journalists with the knowledge required to properly report competition and consumer protection issues.
He stated that the relative novelty of competition law and consumer protection regulation in Nigeria had made stakeholder education a priority for the commission.
The EVC hinted that the FCCPC had recently supported a training programme for judges through the National Judicial Institute to deepen their understanding of competition-related matters.
“We recognised that because it is a new terrain, the judges themselves are not familiar with the nuances. So, we brought in competition experts,” he added.
The Abuja Chairman of CICAN, Gabriel Kuma informed that the association remained committed to constructive journalism and stronger engagement with regulatory institutions.
Kuma noted that effective regulation required a professional relationship between regulators and the media, built around openness, accountability and access to accurate information.
He added: “We are open to constructive reporting that holds institutions accountable. We believe that a strong regulator should have a strong media relationship, one built on openness, professionalism, mutual respect and access to accurate information.
“Where you need the support of the media in educating Nigerians, explaining important regulatory developments or creating greater awareness about consumer rights and fair competition, you can count on CICAN.”
However, CICAN has concluded plans to mark its 20th anniversary with a national dialogue on the Federal Government’s $1 trillion economy agenda, bringing together policymakers, regulators, investors, industry leaders and other stakeholders to examine how Nigeria can accelerate economic growth.
Scheduled for October in Abuja, the dialogue will provide a platform for stakeholders to examine the policies, reforms, investments and partnerships required to drive industrialisation, expand trade, attract investment, increase productivity and strengthen Nigeria’s global economic competitiveness.
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