ABSTRACT
I
embanked upon this study because of the increasing need to protect the interest
of all consumers in Nigeria
with the specific focus on the role of National Agency for Food and Drugs
Administration and Control and the Advertising Practitioners Council of
Nigeria.
If
these two bodies carryout their duties diligently and effectively, the rights
of consumers should be highly protected by reducing unethical behaviours.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Title Page
Approval Page
Dedication
Acknowledgment
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study
1.2
Statement of the Problem
1.3
Objective of the Study
1.4
Significance of the Study
1.5
Scope of the Study
1.6
Definition of the Important Terms
1.7
References.
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1
The Origin of the Subject Area
2.2
The Role of Government Unconsumer Protection
2.3
The Social Responsibility of Business for Ethnical
Behaviour
2.4
Different Methods of Studying the Problem
2.5
Summary
2.6
Reference
CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSION
3.1
Data Presentation
3.2
Analysis of the Data
3.3
Recommendation
3.4
Conclusions
3.5
References
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
Business
exists primarily to earn profit. In
order to achieve this goal; it will seek to serve some identifiable needs of
some definable consumer. Without
consumers there would not be business because effective demand is desire back
by ability to pay. Consumers are
therefore an important societal group towards whom business must believe
responsibly.
While
consumers are important to business they are not organised to countervail
against business practices that are harmful or exploitative of them. In relation to business consumers stand like
labour in relation to management.
Traditionally, the business are free to make and market any product and
or service provided that is not dangerous and also to design advertising
communication for its products and services.
They are also allowed to price them in ways that enable them to maximize
profit.
In
1962, the president of the United States of America (U.S.A), John F. Kennedy
(Late) listed consumers right to include.
i)
The right to choice from a range of brand of products
and services.
ii)
The right to be informed of important fact about a
product or services, such as quality, health hazards and durability.
iii)
The right to be heard by business and government to
make complaints or suggestion and to ask question.
iv)
The right to be safe when using products and services.
In the
United States there arose the consumer movement in reaction to abuses by
business, in the 1960’s consumers were dissatisfied with defective or unsafe
products fraudulent claims and careless repair. This resulted in the consumer product
safety commission in 1972 (U.S) such concerns were felt in Nigeria and
have let the government regulation of business to protect consumer. In the 1970’s government set up such bodies
as the productivity, prices and incomes board and the part-health office. Today there are more such bodies among the
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Federal
Road Safety Commission, Public Complaint Commission etc.
The private
sector also has watchdog bodies such as the Advertising Practitioner’s Council
of Nigeria (APCON), the Nigeria Medical and Dental Council, the Nigerian Bar
Association and so on.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
Whereas it
is proper to have watchdog bodies, it is the relationship between these bodies
and business that ensure the production of consumers. Two important consumer rights are the right
to safe products and services to be what they are represented to be by the
business which is selling it.
NAFDAC
certified food and drugs as fit for human consumption, while APCON ensures that
advertisements are not deceptive or unethical.
The problem of the study is to establish the process by which these two
bodies fulfill their mission and how consumers get assurances.
1.3 OBJECTIVE
OF STUDY
To start
with NAFDAC, the primary goal of NAFDAC is to promote and guarantee the health
and well being of Nigerians through the effective implementation of various law
regulating and controlling the manufacture, Advertisement, distribution, sale,
use of food, drugs, cosmetic, while Advertising Practitioners Council of
Nigeria (APCON) serve as a guidance to advertisement which should contain
nothing which is breach of Nigeria and international copyright laws or omit
anything which the law require. Also
advertisement must not use visual illustrations that offered public taste and
decency. In particular no obscene
exposure will be allowed in any advertisement.
Again,
the right of individual to privacy must be respected, and proper contractual
agreements must be entered into by agencies, advertisers and model pictures and
property of individuals should contain noting which is a beach of Nigeria
and international copyright laws or omit anything which the law require. Also advertisement must not use visual
illustration that offends public taste and decency. In particular no obscene
exposure will be allowed in any advertisement.
Again,
the right of individual to privacy must be respected, and proper contractual
agreements must be entered into by agencies, advertisers and model. Pictures and property of individuals should
not be used arbitrarily without the prior consent of the rightful owner.
Advertisements
must not courage the popularization of negative myths and superstitions beliefs
even when there are based on aspects of culture, philosophy and worldview.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
On
the one hand, APCON Functions thus,
·
To determine who are advertising practitioners
·
To regulate and control the practice of advertising in
all its aspects and ramification,
·
To conduct examinations in the profession.
·
To set the standards of knowledge required of such
practitioners.
·
By compiling and maintaining a register of
practitioners.
In pursuant
of the above, the council has approved this code for the control of advertising
in its entire ramification. As
stipulated in the enabling decree, nobody can practice adverting for profit in
any form in Nigeria
without first being registered with APCON; any contravention of this provision
is punishable under the law.
On the
other hand NAFDAC
·
Pronounces on the quality and safety of food, drugs,
cosmetic, medical devices, bottle water and chemical after appropriate
laboratory analysis.
·
Undertakes inspection of imported food, drugs,
cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals at the port of entry as
well as the premises where these products are manufactures locally.
·
Controls the exportation of regulated products by
issuing combined certificate of goods manufacturing practice free sale.
·
Covants authorization to import and export Narcotic
drugs, psychotropic substances chemicals as well as other controlled
substances.
·
Undertakes measures to ensure that the use of Narcotic
drugs and psychotropic substances are limited to medical and scientific
purpose.
·
Regulates and controls the importation and
exportation, manufacture, advertisement, distribution, sales and use of food,
drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottle water and chemicals.
·
Also approves and monitors the advertisement of drugs,
food, cosmetics, medical devices, bottle contents, standard specification and
guidelines for production, importation, exportation, sales and distribution of
all regulated product.
1.5 SCOPE
OF THE STUDY
NAFDAC,
enforce reputation effectively
·
To ensure that only good quality, safe and duly
registered regulated products are in circulation in the country.
·
To educate manufactures of food, drugs, cosmetics,
bottle water and other related industries.
·
To educate consumers and the general public to ensure
its role is appreciated.
While
Advertising practitioners council of Nigeria (APCON) ensures that all
advertising must be legal, decent, honest, truthful and should be respectful of
Nigeria’s culture they
should be prepared with high sense of social responsibility and should not show
disregard for interest of consumers and wider Nigeria society. Conform to the principal of air competition
generally accepted in business and fair comment expected in human communication
lastly enhances public confidence in advertising.
1.6 DEFINITION
OF TERMS
NAFDAC: National Agency for Food
and Drugs Administration and Control
DEFECTIVE: faculty, for instance dishing our drugs which are for human
consumption.
FRAUDULENT: Dishonest, a person pretending to be something he is not or a thing
that is not what you expect.
CLAIM: To demand, a statement/assertion without any proof.
APCON: Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria.
ADVERTISING: Is a form of
communication through media about producers, services or ideals paid for and
identified sponsor.
ADVERTISING AS A PROFESSION:
Is a body of experts involved in the art of planning, creating and
placing advertisement in media.
ADVERTISING PRACTITIONER: Is one who is skilled in planning, creating
and placing advertisement in the media.
ADVERTISMENT: An advertisement is a communication in
the media paid for by an identifiable sponsor and directed at a target audience
with the aim of importing information about a products services, ideal or
opinion.
1.7 REFERENCES
Tayloy J. (1981) is business above
the law A Harvard
Business
Series P. 110.
Drucker P. (1977) management Task,
Responsibility
and
practice London:
William Heinemann Publisher Inc P. 110.
Erinmac. Nwandu, nnenna B. et al
(2000) Principle
of
Management II Enugu: Iyke Venture
Production. P. 19.1
Edward T. (1975) Consumer Finance New York:
Cabrillo College.
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