July 23 2019 0Comment

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT PCC TO FULFILL ITS MANDATE

The Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has assured the Public Complaints Commission of the preparedness of the House of Representatives to support the Commission to effectively carry out its mandate of redressing all forms of administrative injustices in the country.

The Speaker disclosed this on Tuesday while playing host to the Chief Commissioner, Commissioners and Management Staff of the Commission who came on a courtesy visit to him in his office at the National Assembly Complex Abuja.

Hon. Gbajabiamila acknowledged and praised the efforts of the Chief Commissioner, Hon. Chille Igbawua in trying to reposition the Public Complaints commission within just a year in office and employed the Commissioners to put in more effort as the Commission remains the last hope of the average Nigerians who cannot afford the high cost of litigation in the regular court.

He emphasized that the House of Representatives will look into the Act establishing the Commission to find ways of making the Commission revenue generating so as to address the problem of paucity of fund  that hampers the Commission’s operations adding that the House will also try to straighten areas where the functions of the Commission conflicts with the Committee of the House of Representatives in charge of Public Petitions so that both organs of the National Assembly won’t be carrying out same functions.

Speaking earlier during the courtesy call, the Chief Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Hon. Chille Igbawua said that the courtesy visit is principally to congratulate the Speaker, Principal Officers and Members of the House of Representatives first,  on their election into the Chambers of the House and secondly, on their emergence as Principal officers to pilot the affairs of the 9th Assembly and expressed optimism that with the wealth of experience of the Speaker, the House will sure make good laws that will impact positively on the average Nigerian.

The Chief Commissioner equally used the opportunity of the visit to inform the House of Representatives of the achievements of the Commission under him during the last one year which includes achieving media visibility for the Commission, increase in number of Cases received and handled, visibility within the global Ombudsman Community and his election as the Co coordinator (West Africa) of the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA).

Hon. Igbawua also informed the Speaker of the choice of the Public Complaints Commission (Nigerian Ombudsman) to host an international Ombudsman exposition in Abuja, Nigerian that will bring together 500, Ombuds offices all over the world and called on the National Assembly to redress the low budgetary allocation which the Commission has suffered over the years to enable it meet teething challenges of dearth of accommodation, operational vehicles, staff remuneration, welfare and human capacity development.

Emma Ugboaja

16th July, 2019

ombudsman

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