Public Complaints Commission Aims for 60% Drop in Governance Issues in Two Years

The Chief Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Hon. Bashir Abubakar, has announced that Nigeria could see a 60% reduction in governance challenges within two years. This improvement is contingent on providing the Nigerian Ombudsman with the necessary support to effectively carry out its duties.

Abubakar made these comments at a conference focused on good governance. He emphasized that enhancing the Commission’s ability to handle complaints and resolve disputes could help prevent issues from escalating and reduce the burden on the courts.

He encouraged citizens to utilize the Commission’s services to address grievances related to public institutions. Abubakar explained that the Ombudsman offers a way for people to resolve issues without going to court, which he believes is often the best approach.

The Chief Commissioner highlighted that the PCC has dealt with around 1.2 million complaints and resolved over 700,000 cases in the last two years. This is a significant increase compared to the Commission’s performance over its first 50 years, where it received about 1.8 million complaints and resolved around 1.4 million.

Abubakar credited recent progress to the support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly. He noted that ongoing discussions with government leaders have helped address some of the challenges faced by the Commission.

He also called for more collaboration with traditional institutions, suggesting that community leaders can play a vital role in resolving disputes. Abubakar stressed the importance of listening to the public and building strong institutions to achieve effective governance.

The PCC plans to continue hosting annual conferences to bring together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss ways to strengthen institutions and improve governance in Nigeria.