Complaints Commission Resolves 1.2m Cases

The Chief Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Bashir Abubakar, has disclosed that the commission has resolved over 1.2 million cases since its establishment 50 years ago, while 522,778 complaints remain under active consideration.

Abubakar made this known on Thursday at a press conference in Abuja to mark the golden jubilee of Nigeria’s Ombudsman institution, describing the milestone as a reflection of Nigerians’ confidence in the commission’s ability to deliver justice and uphold administrative fairness.

Abubakar acknowledged that the commission however still faces critical challenges, particularly inadequate funding, which has affected logistics, staff development and enforcement capacity.

“Limited budgetary allocation continues to constrain our operations. To strengthen our impact, the Commission requires greater support from the government and policymakers,” he said.

The chief commissioner assured that the PCC under his leadership is being restructured for efficiency, with a focus on digital transformation and the adoption of technology-based complaint management systems to ensure quicker and more transparent resolutions.

“We are repositioning the commission to meet global standards by embracing technology for case management. Justice delayed is justice denied, and we are determined to reduce delays significantly,” he added.

He said the PCC, created in 1975 through Decree No. 31 following the recommendations of the Chief Jerome Udoji-led Public Service Review Panel, had been instrumental in bridging the gap between citizens and government institutions. The decree, now captured under Section 315(5b) of the 1999 Constitution and the PCC Act (CAP P37, LFN 2004), empowers the commission to investigate complaints against public authorities, statutory corporations, and registered private entities.