Commission Frowns at Customers’ Discrimination, Stereotyping Over Gender, Social Class

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it will reject any discrimination or stereotyping on account of race, gender, social class or any other protected ground of consumers by service providers.

The commission also said that it will subject any perpetrators – service providers to the full weight of the law.

A statement by Mr Babatunde Irukera, the Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC in Abuja on Monday said the commission received a complaint that a customer at the Harzoyka restaurant located at Ikeja, Lagos was denied entry.

Irukera said that the customer was denied entry to the restaurant because she was a female and unaccompanied by a male companion.

“The commission conducted surveillance and monitoring at the location, including attempted patronage by an undercover lone female operative. Further investigations by the commission included engaging security, service personnel and senior management of the restaurant. The proprietor admits that approximately 30 days ago, it implemented a new access control policy to promote social distancing in accordance with prevailing COVID-19 management protocols but denies such policy was targeted at or to deny access to lone female customers”.

The commission noted that Harzoyka Restaurant failed to provide appropriate sensitivity training and exercise sufficient oversight with respect to security operatives who enforced access control policies and efforts.

“As such, it is highly probable that this failure led to the unresolved discriminatory incident”.

Irukera said the commission would issue a Compliance Notice in pursuant to Section 150 of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Act to the restaurant.

He said the restaurant would remain under supervision for a limited period to ensure adequate training and oversight as well as proper customer engagement and complaint resolution.

The chief executive officer urged members of the public to report conducts and practices by businesses operators that violated the rights of citizens.