By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — A bill seeking to strengthen the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), improve public service delivery and establish a legal framework for the protection of whistleblowers has passed second reading in the Senate.
The proposed legislation also seeks to expand the investigative powers of the Commission, enabling it to conduct more effective investigations into complaints, obtain relevant information and documents, make recommendations, and promote fairness, accountability, transparency and good governance across public institutions.
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), is sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen (APC, Edo South).
The bill aims to modernise and strengthen the legal and institutional framework of the Public Complaints Commission in line with constitutional provisions, contemporary governance realities and internationally recognised ombudsman principles.
