Public Sector
The Commission handles all the cases from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). These MDAs provide employment for the majority of Nigerians, and also do business with consultants, national and international. In the course of interactions while doing business, frictions occur and ensuing developments cause grievances that in some cases are not resolved internally, hence the recourse to the Commission for redress. The volume of complaints received from these sources is much and sometimes are intricate. Qualified personnel are therefore posted to this Section to address these issues.
Private Sector
The Commission is also enabled to investigate complaints against any company or organization in Nigeria that is approved by the Corporate Affairs Commission, and there are many of such companies here. These companies are high employers of labour and because of the high poverty level in the country, tend to take advantage of their employees. The complaints have always been on either refusal to pay the workers or labourers, or on firing them after they have been employed for a short while without payment for work done or half payment for the period worked. Having nowhere else to turn to, they take advantage of the services of the Commission.
Pension and Gratuity
One major area of the Commission’s job that has presented a serious challenge is the problem of pension payment. Over the years, this issue has festered with no end in sight. The Commission therefore set up a section dedicated to tackle it head-on. It relates with the other agencies of Government like the Office of Head of Service, Military and Paramilitary Pension Boards and the newly established Pension Commission, PENCOM. This way, it has been able to solve numerous pension problems and related issues that have been brought to its attention.
We are committed to tackling challenges arising from the payment of employees’ pension, benefits and gratuity.
Schools
The Commission intervenes in all complaints and issues raised by students in secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria. When students complain of non-issuance of certificates after completion of their studies, wrongful rustication, etc., the Commission intervenes to redress these grievances. The section also receives and resolves complaints of non-release of examination results from Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board JAMB, National Examinations Council NECO, West African Examinations Council WAEC and other such Examination bodies.
Community Relations
Apart from investigating received complaints, the commission strives to educate the rural communities on their rights and to encourage them to come to the Commission when these rights are infringed upon. These infringements are normally in the areas of non-execution of projects by Local Government authorities, especially when there are appropriations for these projects. The commission has a section interfaces with the Chiefs and community/opinion leaders in the effort to reach the grassroots.
Apart from resolving complaints, we strive to educate the rural communities on their rights and to encourage them to report infringements.
More specifically, listed below are rights and duties of the Commission:
- We act as the statutory ombudsman for Nigeria.
- We investigate and conduct research in MDAs, Companies and officials of these bodies.
- We publicize its findings.
- We Interpret Policy and advise government and organizations on a proper course of action.
- We investigate administrative procedures of any court of law in Nigeria.
- We make recommendations after due investigation to appropriate and responsible authority.
- We act as whistle blower by reporting crimes discovered in the process of investigation to appropriate law enforcement agencies.
- We report any erring officer of any of the aforesaid organizations for disciplinary action.
- We prosecute offenders for offences created under the Act with the Attorney-Generals fat.
- We propose amendment bills on observed lacunae and inadequacies of administrative rules, laws and procedures to the legislature.
- We make recommendations especially after pro-active investigation.
- We prosecute offenders who block the investigation process.