Chidinma Iroegbu
The Public Complaints Commission (PCC) says it has resolved about 760,000 complaints in two years, as it steps up efforts to tackle maladministration, corruption and abuse of office across Nigeria.
The Chief Commissioner, Bashir Abubakar, disclosed this while reviewing the commission’s performance and announcing plans for the first Nigerian Ombudsman Conference scheduled for October 15, 2026.
Abubakar said the commission received approximately 1.2 million complaints during the period, reflecting the volume of grievances brought before the national ombudsman.
“If, in two years, we can now receive about 1.2 million complaints, it means the government is working,” he said.
He said the commission inherited serious operational challenges, including inadequate funding, unpaid staff benefits and industrial disputes that resulted in the closure of its headquarters for more than three weeks.
According to him, improved government funding has supported institutional reforms, including better staff welfare and the implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure for commission employees.
Abubakar said the commission had increased monthly allocations to its state offices by about 400 per cent to strengthen operations and improve its capacity to address complaints across the country.
He added that more than 3,400 staff members had received training out of a workforce of approximately 4,000, while over 2,300 employees were promoted between 2025 and 2026.
Other reforms introduced by the commission include biometric staff verification, information technology upgrades, departmental restructuring and stronger partnerships with government agencies, civil society organisations and international ombudsman institutions.
Established in 1975, the PCC is mandated to investigate complaints of maladministration, abuse of office and misconduct involving public institutions and other organisations within its jurisdiction.
The first Nigerian Ombudsman Conference will hold under the theme, “System Building and Compliance: Key Factors to Good Governance.” The conference is expected to bring together policymakers and other stakeholders to examine ways to strengthen accountability, improve institutional compliance and make complaint resolution more effective.