The Public Complaints Commission is constitutionally mandated to address cases of injustice perpetrated by either government officials or authority, private organisation or between persons.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has been charged to reposition the Public Complaint Commission (PCC) to ensure service delivery.
The National Coordinator of the Network for People’s Congress (NPC), Malam Ladan Mohammed, who made the call on Tuesday while speaking to journalists at the National Assembly, argued that the commission has not lived up to its mandate due to poor funding and management.
Mohammed noted the need for the National Assembly to prioritise the revival of the commission, “No doubt, the 10th Assembly is facing numerous challenges as the Legislature tries to settle down to face the business of law-making and preserving the constitution.
“The most important task before Akpabio is helping Nigerians get Justice. Justice is not only served at the courts of law but total adherence to laid down rules and principles in all spheres guarantees justice, most especially social justice.
“The National Assembly is the protector and custodian of democracy, democratic values, and social justice. The National Assembly is open to complaints from Nigerians from every part via their representatives in the Senate and the Federal House of Representatives. These complaints are brought before the National Assembly and are discussed and looked into in the chambers of the National Assembly or at ad-hoc committee levels.”
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He added, “These channels are not easily accessible to the generality of Nigerians who have a myriad of complaints, because most people do not have easy access to their representatives.
“The National Assembly in its efforts to resolve complaints from Nigerians in every sphere, has an agency which is constitutionally mandated to address cases of social and administrative injustice from Nigerians free of charge. The Public Complaints Commission is empowered to help Nigerians get justice perpetrated by either government officials or authority, private organisation or between persons.”
The NCP National Coordinator further blamed the leadership of the National Assembly for the current state of the Commission saying, “The Leadership of the National Assembly also contributed to the poor state of the Commission as a result of their neglect of an agency which is an extension of the National Assembly.
“In the last 8 years, the Commission’s staff under their Labour Unions has embarked on about 4 industrial strike actions demanding for payment of their promotional arrears, better welfare, and better workplace conditions.
“The 10th Assembly under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio unarguably has a lot to do to revive the almost dead Ombudsman of the country as this will boost the confidence of the ordinary Nigerians in getting Social Justice in this renewed hope administration.
“Senator Godswill Akpabio as the chairman of the 10th National Assembly has a date with destiny. It’s up to him to take charge and control of the Public Complaints Commission for efficient service delivery to Nigerians,” Mohammed stated.
