Appreciating the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) as Ombudsman

Nigerians will help government a lot if they can recognise the importance of the Public Complaints Commission, which is the machinery for the control of administrative excesses (non-adherence to procedures or abuse of law).

The PCC is an organ of government set up to redress complaints lodged by aggrieved citizens or residents in the country against administrative injustice.

Because it also provides a viable option for Nigerians or anyone resident in Nigeria seeking redress against injustice arising from administrative bureaucratic errors, omission or abuse by officials of government, or limited liability companies in Nigeria, the commission aims at promoting social justice for the individual citizen and helps in finding new avenues towards protecting the rights of every telecom consumer.

The PCC is a statutory creation with wide powers of inquiry and investigation.

It has wide powers to receive complaints from members of the public against maladministration and misuse of administrative machinery by any public authority and companies or their officials.

In Nigeria like other developing countries, the use of administrative power by officers of government and their institutions to oppress, victimise and discriminate against the citizenry is quite common and rampant.

The use of administrative powers to flagrantly abuse the citizen’s human rights and freedom is also a common occurrence. Thus, there is the need for government to intervene and take definite action to stem this problem that is gradually embarrassing the government,

The PCC has multiple channels such as its Consumer Complaints Portal, social media handles and its 622 toll free customer care line for consumers to lay complaints directly to it if they feel they have been underserved by their network provider.

We should also not forget that the commission also has the role of improving public administration in general, by pointing out weaknesses observed in the laws, procedures, practices, rules and regulations and standard behaviour of officials. These are provided for in the Act, CAP 37 LFN 2004.

I wish to therefore commend the contributions of the PCC. The organisation has restored the hope of Nigerians by contributing immensely in the fight against corruption.

The chairman of the commission and his staff should be appreciated by Nigerians.

Ibrahim Mohammed wrote from Suleja, Niger State