A proposed bill seeking to modernise and strengthen the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) has passed second reading in the Senate. The commission is responsible for addressing citizens' complaints against administrative injustice, abuse of office, and arbitrary actions by public authorities.

The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Public Complaints Commission Act, Cap P37, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Re-enact the Public Complaints Commission Act, 2026, in line with Section 315(5)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to Reposition the Commission as an Independent National Ombudsman Institution and for Related Matters” (SB. 1040), aims to strengthen the legal and institutional framework of the Public Complaints Commission.

Speaking with journalists after the bill passed second reading, Senator Neda Imasuen, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, said the proposed legislation seeks to modernise and strengthen the Commission's investigative powers. He noted that the review is necessary to reflect technological advancements and strengthen the Commission's capacity to effectively discharge its constitutional mandate.

The bill also proposes the establishment of a comprehensive whistleblower protection framework, which Imasuen said would encourage citizens to provide vital information without fear of intimidation or retaliation. According to him, incorporating whistleblower protection into the PCC Act would provide legal safeguards for informants and facilitate information gathering by security agencies and other relevant institutions.

The proposed bill also aims to reposition the Commission as an independent National Ombudsman Institution with enhanced powers to receive, investigate, mediate, and resolve complaints arising from maladministration, abuse of power, unfair treatment, and other administrative actions by public authorities, public officers, and corporate bodies. Imasuen said the proposed law would strengthen the Commission's independence and operational autonomy to ensure complaints are handled impartially, professionally, and without undue interference.

The bill also seeks to strengthen administrative justice by providing citizens with a more effective avenue for redress, reducing bureaucratic arbitrariness, enhancing public sector accountability, and restoring confidence in government institutions.

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And what do you think? This new bill can make things easier for Nigerians.

The Senate is planning to conduct public hearings to gather more feedback on the proposed legislation before passing it into law.

The Public Complaints Commission was established in 1988 to provide citizens with an accessible mechanism for seeking redress against administrative injustice, abuse of office, and arbitrary actions by public authorities.

The proposed bill is expected to be passed into law by the end of the year.

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