PCC is collaborating with embassies – Chief Commissioner, Igbawua

The Chief Commissioner of Nigeria’s Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Hon. Chile Igbawua said the Commission had been repositioned in the last three years with tremendous results, saying that the development has endeared it to various embassies which are collaborating with the Commission.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, on Wednesday, after a two day plenary with the 36 Federal Commissioners and FCT, he stressed that foreign missions became interested in activities of PCC because of progress of activities in clear departure from the past to the extent that some of the Commission’s staff receives training at the embassies’ cost.

The Chief Ombudsman noted that the Commission has been put on a fast lane and could compete with others anywhere in the world in the handling of its statutory mandates for the people, adding that this was made possible through sustained collaboration.

He stressed: “PCC has sustained partnership with Non-government and whistle blowing organisation like pro bono lawyers, human rights radio for greater efficiency and proactive resolution of complaints.

Reeling out success of the Commission he noted that there was increased resolution of complaints with 71,529 cases received among which 23,815 were resolved in 2019, while 47, 714 carried over to 2020 for resolution.

He said: “It is my pleasure to address the media after a two day plenary of the Federal Commissioners of the Public Complaints Commission of the 36 States and FCT.

He commended the Federal Commissioners for overcoming the challenge of operating from Abuja, a situation he said, made them to assume a full jurisdiction in their various States.

“The present set of Commissioners were inaugurated in May, 2018 and that is to say they have served close to three years now and am happy to announce that when we were inaugurated, one of the major problem that was highlighted by the National Assembly was that the Commissioners were operating from Abuja instead of operating in their various States.

“The difference between the Public Complaints Commission and other Commissions is that PCC Commissioners operates in their States.

“They exercise full jurisdiction in all their States. But am very happy to announce that during this tenure, all Commissioners have been operating effectively from their States and rendering annual reports to the National Assembly and the Head Office.

Speaking on the strategic plan of the Commission, he said:

“On assumption, we have also discovered that the PCC was operating without a plan on ground that could be referred to assess where we are going and to also provide avenue for others to assess you on what you are doing and what you are expected to do.

“So we went into action immediately and put together a five year strategic plan and.since 2018, our operations have been governed by the five year strategic plan.

“It enable us have information on our website that the general public will access and know what we are doing at the material time and what we are expected to do in the near future.

“This led to international communities including Embassies and hitherto they are all aware of the activities of the Commission. As a result of the strategic plan, we have started having patronage from the embassies such that we have some of our staff who receive international training at the cost of these embassies.

“Another issue that we have to treat is that since the establishment of this Commission in 1975, the act provided that the Chief Commissioner should produce a guideline on how Complaints are to be handled and we.disckvered that after 4o years, no such document was in place.

“Again, we move swiftly and put up what is now known as Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). With the SOP, clear time lines has been provided on how a combination should be handled and when and how we get responses from the people.

“With the Standard Operating Procedure, we have been able to outline when responses are.expected, for instance, the act provided that the respondent should respond to inquiries by PCC within 30 days, but they won’t respond after several letters have been written after several months and even years and simply just ignore the request by the Public Complaints Commission.

“The Honourable Chief Commissioner revealed that the response level has improved tremendously as a result of the mechanism put in place since assumption of office three years ago.

He said the Commission has its presence at the Local Government Areas in Nigeria as each Federal Commissioner in the State have been alive to their responsibilities in coordinating PCC activities of that State.

Reacting to questions on LG issues, he lamented that there were challenges with Local government administration in Nigeria which have not been allowed to function effectively, saying it falls within the responsibility of the Commission, whe expressing hope that the issue would be picked up.