Public Complaints Commission, Nigeria
The Public Complaints Commission (abbreviated PCC) is an agency of the Federal government of Nigeria under the Presidency which acts as an Ombudsman that receives complaints of the citizenry against the government or private institutions/organization or their officials and wades in to settle issues.[1] It was set up in 1975 to ensure accountability and transparency in the way government and its agencies as well as organizations engage with the public and to curb arbitrary use of administrative powers by public officials within and outside government establishments.[2] Abimbola Ayo Yusuf is the Chief Commissioner of the commission.[3][4]
History[edit]
The commission was set up through the Public Commission Act, 1975 No 31 and is empowered to widely receive and inquire into complaints by the public as pertains to work-related actions/decisions by government agencies, their officials and private organizations or their officials, and other related matters ancillary to that.[5] However matters that are pending before and/or relating to, the National Assembly, the National Councils of State and Ministers, the Armed Forces, and the Police Force under the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police Acts are exempted.[6] The Act was promulgated by the military administration of General Murtala Mohammed as was advised by the Jerome Udoji panel.[7] The panel gave the advice to ensure that a body exists to check and control the brazen flouting of administrative procedures, government regulation and extant rules.[8] The Public Complaints Commission Act was adopted into 1999(amended) Nigerian constitution which states in Section 315(5) that "Nothing in this Constitution shall invalidate the enactment of Public Complaints Commission Act, and the provisions of the Act".[9] This statutory provision indicates that the Commission bears the responsibility of bridling and correcting all forms of abuse of power which can derail bureaucratic due process and the quality of services offered by government agencies and private organizations.[10][11][12]
The PCC has offices in all the 36 States of Nigeria with the headquarters located at No. 25 Aguiyi Ironsi St, Council 900271, Abuja, FCT.[13]
Activities[edit]
The Public Complaints Commission upholds human rights.[14] It also serves as a watchdog and peoples' court where everyone can get social and administrative justice without being charged any fees. This reduces tension, discontent and even crime among the citizenry which may arise if people do not know where to air the grievances they have with corporate bodies, government actions and officials.[15] Communal crisis could also be curbed when complaints are made to the Commission at the stage of agitations.[16] However, inadequate funds hinder the commission from creating awareness about their function and the establishment of offices at every Local government headquarters as well as resolving all the complaints brought to them.[17][18] Between 2015 and 2018, the commission received 209,745 cases, resolved 87,461, while 122,284 cases are still pending.[19]
Commissioners[edit]
In 2021, the National Assembly approved the appointment of 37 PCC Commissioners for the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory[20] namely:
| Name | State |
|---|---|
| Madukwe E. E. Ukaegbu[21] | Abia |
| Abubakar Bobboyi Jijiwa[22] | Adamawa |
| Uwah Ubong Emmanuel | Akwa Ibom |
| Mrs Emelda Nwajiofor-Okoli | Anambra |
| Ahmad Dauda Jika | Bauchi |
| Chief Wangagha Dige Dise | Bayelsa |
| John-Jack Iyorlian Gumh | Benue |
| Yusuf Adamu | Borno |
| Mr Obi Steve Owan | Cross River |
| Igben Harvest | Delta |
| Chukwu Donald Ogbonna | Ebonyi |
| Peter Jonathan Ethasor Anegbeh | Edo |
| Olukayode Ademola Bamisile | Ekiti |
| Omeye Nick Onyebuchi | Enugu |
| Mike Gomwalk | Federal Capital Territory |
| Tanimu Usman Deba | Gombe |
| Michael Uzodinma Ifeanyi | Imo |
| Jinjiri A. Dutse | Jigawa |
| Abdullahi Garba Abbas | Kaduna |
| Ahmed Ado Dadinkowa | Kano |
| Abdullahi Ibrahim Mahuta | Kastina |
| Mohammed Musa Sabaka | Kebbi |
| Deinde Abolarin | Kogi |
| Olawuyi Abidemi Joseph | Kwara |
| Afeez Odunewu | Lagos |
| Musa Ubandoma Azara | Nasarawa |
| Bala Mohammed | Niger |
| Adegbuyi Abiodun Adesanya | Ogun |
| Adeyemi Oni | Ondo |
| Mr Soji Asolo | Osun |
| Alhaji Folawiyo Bello | Oyo |
| Hon. Abbas A. Garba | Plateau |
| Paul-Worika Alphaeus Omiebi | Rivers |
| Sen. Bello Jubril Gada (CON) | Sokoto |
| Nuhu Sabo | Taraba |
| Lawan Modu Nguru | Yobe |
| Farouk Umar Musa | Zamfara |
The Commissioners will serve for 3years.
References[edit]
- ^ Puristia, Dewinta; Kurniawan, Firman; Lukman, Eduard (2018). "Public Complaints through Mobile Applications as Perceived by Local Government - Case Study of Implementation Qlue for Submission of Complaints in Jakarta Provincial Government". 4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCES. SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications. doi:10.5220/0007031800010001.
- ^ "The Role of Transparency and Accountability for Economic Development in Resource-rich Countries, Address by Agustín Carstens, Deputy Managing Director, IMF". IMF. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Public Complaints Commission Best Suited Agency to Domicile Whistleblowing Policy, President Buhari Declares – the Statehouse, Abuja".
- ^ "Public Complaints Commission (Ombudsman) of Nigeria".
- ^ "A Brief Overview of the Federal Trade Commission's Investigative, Law Enforcement, and Rulemaking Authority". Federal Trade Commission. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria". www.nigeria-law.org. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Classes, Crises and Coup: The Demise of Shagari's Regime on JSTOR". www.jstor.org. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ Steele, Joel Dorman (2006). Answers to the practical questions and problems contained in the fourteen weeks courses in physiology, philosophy, astronomy, and chemistry (old and new edition). By J. Dorman Steele ...
- ^ "You are being redirected..." 9jalegal.com.ng. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "You are being redirected". 9jalegal.com.ng. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Public Complaints Commission Act". Placng.org. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Duties and Powers of the Public Complaints Commission | Adedunmade Onibokun - Legalnaija". 8 September 2018.
- ^ Market, Old; Town, Mayo Belwa (20 November 2020). "States & Areas Offices of Public Complaints Commission". SabiLaw. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "'Fund public complaints commission'". December 2017.
- ^ "Public complaints commission receives 300 petitions in Anambra". 5 April 2023.
- ^ "Nigeria needs to tackle agitations before leading to crises – PCC - Daily Trust".
- ^ "We've have no money to work Public Complaints Commission". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Public Complaints Commission resolved 'only 41% of cases' in 4 years". 20 December 2019.
- ^ "We Resolve 10,000 Cases Yearly – Complaints Commission". 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Public Complaints Commission appoints new commissioner in Anambra". 9 August 2021.
- ^ Rapheal (7 August 2021). "Nigeria Correctional Service, Public Complaints Commission partner on intelligence sharing". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Abubakar Jijiwa leaves Voice of Nigeria | AIB". aib.org.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2023.