Economy
PBoR: Our goal is to prevent exploitation of consumers ― FCCPC
PBoR: Our goal is to prevent exploitation of consumers ― FCCPC
By Admin
Kano- The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has reiterated its commitment to ensuring fairness as well as preventing the exploitation of consumers.
Speaking shortly after a town hall in Kano, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Mr. Babatunde Irukera,said that the engagement was organized to educate patients and other health care consumers on their rights.
“Our primary role is to ensure that service providers give better services to consumers as well as prevent exploitation of consumers,” he said.
Represented by the Commission’s Executive Commissioner, Operations, Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, explained that the meeting would equip them with the required knowledge on how to channel their grievances.
According to him, the engagement will also educate the stakeholders and pay more attention to their rights, demand and insist on better services.
“Yesterday we train doctors and nurses on the nitty-gritty of the Patients Bill of Right (PBoR) for them to acknowledge their obligations and the rights of patients while carrying out their duties.
“Today we are also engaging service receivers to enlighten them on how to demand their rights, channel complain and better relationship with with service providers,” he said.
The FCCPC boss who expressed his delight at the attendance of the two-day event called on consumers to always demand for better services.
Earlier, a consultant, Mr Folami Onirinwa, explained that patients right include , right to information Ina language and manner the patient understands.
He urged healthcare service providers in the country to intensify efforts in protecting patients’ rights in their facilities.
Onirinwa added that PBoR would foster a relationship of trust between healthcare providers and patients.
The consultant then urged the participants to pay attention to the training and share the knowledge with others.
Some of the participants who spoke to our correspondent lauded FCCPC for organizing the training and promised to share the knowledge with others.
The rights included right to information in a language and manner the patient understand, and right to timely access to detailed and accurate medical records and available services.
Others are: right to transparent billing and full disclosure of costs, right to be treated with respect, regardless of gender, race, religion, ethnicity or allegations of crime.
There is also right to clean, safe and secured healthcare environment, right to complain and express dissatisfaction regarding services received, among others.
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The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has launched a pivotal workshop aimed at enhancing the export competitiveness of Nigeria’s gemstone sector.
Speaking at the workshop on Tuesday in Kano, the Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, emphasized the importance of transforming Nigeria’s gemstone industry.
“Countries that dominate the gemstone export market do so not because they mine the most, but because they add the most value,” she said,
Represented by the regional coordinator of the agency, Hajiya Amina Abdulmalik, stressed that gemstones in their raw form do not yield the same economic potential as polished, value-added products.
“Nigeria, blessed with a wealth of gemstones such as sapphire, tourmaline, emerald, topaz, garnet, and amethyst, boasts substantial deposits across various states, including Kano and its neighboring regions,” she explained.
Ayeni pointed out that a significant proportion of the country’s gemstones were exported in their rough, unprocessed state, limiting both foreign exchange earnings and job creation.
According to her, the practice, results in other countries capturing the economic value through processing and finishing.
She stressed that the workshop aligns with the NEPC’s strategic campaign, #DoubleYourExports, which calls for a transition from raw mineral exports to processed, certified, and globally competitive finished products.
“This is not just a technical exercise, but an economic strategy to elevate Nigeria’s position in the global gemstone market,” Ayeni said.
Ayeni also highlighted the importance of organized clusters and collaboration between miners, processors, exporters, and financial institutions.
“When miners operate informally and individually, value is lost. But when they work within organized clusters, skills improve, costs reduce, and standards strengthen,” she added.
The NEPC boss also affirmed the Council’s commitment to providing continuous support to the gemstone sector.
Hajiya Amina Abdulmalik, NEPC North-West Regional Coordinator, called for the transformation of Nigeria’s gemstone value chain to meet international standards.
She stressed the importance of miners and artisans acquiring skills to produce high-quality, market-ready gemstones.
Abdulmalik highlighted that the workshop supports NEPC’s mandate to promote non-oil exports and create sustainable livelihoods through value addition.
She said that the training would cover quality management, export documentation, and market access strategies to enhance global competitiveness.
Speaking also, Alhaji Hamza Safiyanu, Commissioner for the Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, outlined key strategies for advancing the sector.
He stressed the ministry’s progress through data collection, stakeholder engagement, and policy development.
“We are now focusing on providing artisans miners with opportunities to market their products, a major achievement in our efforts,” he said,
Safiyanu emphasized the need for miners to understand global markets and their sector’s potential.
Speaking also, Alhaji Hamza Safiyanu, Commissioner for the Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, outlined key strategies for achieving the sector’s goals.
According to him, the ministry has made significant progress through concerted efforts, including data collection and stakeholder engagement.
He highlighted the importance of policy development and collaborations in advancing the sector.
“We have moved to the next phase of development by involving miners, particularly artisanal miners.
“Our focus is now on creating opportunities for them to market their mined products. This marks a major achievement in our efforts,” he explained.
The commissioner also emphasized the need for artisanal miners to better understand global markets and the potential within their sector.
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Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has called on Northern states to strengthen collaboration in implementing tax reforms and digital transformation to boost revenue generation and ensure sustainable development.
Yusuf made the call on Wednesday at the second day of 2025 Northern Revenue Conference held in Kano.
The conference, with the theme “Readiness, Reforms, and Digital Transformation,” brought together policymakers, fiscal experts, and revenue administrators from across the northern states to discuss emerging trends in tax administration.
Represented by the Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Alhaji Musa Shanono, the Governor said effective revenue management remained central to good governance and economic growth.
He said his administration had prioritised fiscal reforms and digital innovation to improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability in public finance.
Yusuf commended the Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) for its progress under the leadership of Dr. Zaid Abubakar, describing it as a model for other states to emulate.
He said the enactment of the 2025 Nigerian Tax Laws had ushered in a new era in the country’s fiscal policy, encouraging states to embrace innovation and technology in tax administration.
Yusuf added, “The new framework compels us to think more strategically, collaborate more effectively and act more decisively.
“We must expand our fiscal frontiers beyond traditional boundaries and harness the potential of the informal sector, SMEs, and the growing digital economy.”
He emphasised integrity and accountability as the foundation of effective governance, saying:
“Integrity is fundamental in whatever we do. When it is missing, energy and intelligence are wasted,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS), Dr Zaid Abubakar, has called on state revenue agencies to embrace digital innovations and institutional reforms to enhance efficiency and transparency in tax administration.
He said the era of manual processes and guesswork in tax administration had passed, stressing the need for precision, digital competence and strong leadership in driving fiscal reforms.
“The 2025 reform agenda requires us to be strategic, data-driven and technology-oriented.
“The era of guesswork in tax administration is over. We must move towards systems that ensure accountability, accuracy and convenience for taxpayers,” he said.
The KIRS Chairman urged participants to use the conference as a platform to share ideas, strengthen collaboration and build networks that would promote a more efficient and taxpayer-friendly revenue system across the northern states.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government to continue investing in digital transformation and capacity building to support sustainable revenue growth and fiscal stability
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Yusuf stated this on Tuesday while declaring open the 2025 Northern Revenue Conference held in Kano.
The conference, with the theme “Readiness, Reforms, and Digital Transformation”, was attended by revenue administrators, policymakers, and fiscal experts from across the Northern states.
Represented by the Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Alhaji Musa Shanono, he said the event was significant to his administration, adding that effective revenue management remained the engine room of governance.
Yusuf said the state government’s programmes and projects across the state would not have been possible without the commitment and efficiency of revenue-generating institutions.
The Governor expressed appreciation for the progress recorded by KIRS under the leadership of Dr Zaid Abubakar, describing it as a model of innovation and transparency in public finance administration.
He stated that the enactment of the 2025 Nigerian Tax Laws marked a new chapter in the nation’s fiscal history, creating opportunities to build a fair, transparent, and digitally driven tax system.
Yusuf said, “This new framework compels us to think more strategically, collaborate more effectively and act more decisively.
“We must expand our fiscal frontiers beyond traditional boundaries and harness the vast potential that lies within our informal economy, SMEs, and the growing digital ecosystem.”
The governor explained that since assuming office in May 2023, his administration had embarked on a vision to build a self-reliant, digitally enabled, and revenue-resilient Kano State.
He said the transformation of the revenue system was made possible through partnerships, reforms, and institutional strengthening of the Kano State Internal Revenue Service.
“According to the latest National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report, Kano State recorded a 100 per cent increase in Internally Generated Revenue within one year, ranking it among the top-performing states in the country,”
Yusuf said.
The governor also emphasised the importance of integrity and accountability in public service.
He added: “Integrity is fundamental in whatever we do. When it is missing, energy and intelligence are wasted.
$That is what Kano State has enjoyed integrity in governance and public service.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Zacch Adedeji, said the agency remained committed to implementing far-reaching tax reforms and digital transformation aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s fiscal system.
Represented by the Secretary, Joint Tax Board (JTB), Mr Adesokan Olusegun, Adedeji said the conference provided a vital platform for engaging stakeholders.
According to him, it will do provide an ample opportunity to conduct technical reviews of the newly enacted tax laws to ensure smooth transition and implementation across all tiers of government.
“This forum represents a milestone in our collective journey towards building a transparent, technology-driven, and fair tax administration system,” he said.
Also speaking , the Chairman, Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS), Dr Zaid Abubakar, urged state revenue agencies to adopt digital transformation and institutional reforms in line with Nigeria’s evolving tax system.
He said the 2025 reforms required precision, digital competence and bold leadership to enhance efficiency and service delivery, adding that the era of guesswork in tax administration is over.
The KIRS boss urged the participants to use the forum to exchange ideas and strengthen collaboration for a more efficient and taxpayer-friendly system.
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