By Jerrywright Ukwu

Nigerian senate | File photo

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 to enable it conduct more effective investigations, obtain relevant documents, make recommendations and promote fairness, accountability, transparency and good governance across public institutions.

The bill, sponsored by Neda Imasuen, senator representing Edo south and chairman of the senate committee on ethics, code of conduct and public petitions, seeks to repeal and re-enact the Public Complaints Commission Act.

It is 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’.

‘EXISTING LAW IS OUTDATED’

Speaking with journalists after the bill scaled second reading on Tuesday, Imasuen said the legislation was designed to modernise and strengthen the commission’s legal and institutional framework.

He said the existing Act had become outdated after more than two decades and no longer reflected current governance realities or technological advancements.

According to him, the proposed law would enhance the commission’s operational efficiency and make it more responsive to the complaints and welfare of Nigerians.

“The essence of the bill is to strengthen the agency to do its work more effectively and serve the Nigerian people even better,” he said.

Imasuen identified the establishment of a comprehensive whistleblower protection framework as one of the key innovations in the bill.

He said the framework would encourage citizens to provide vital information without fear of intimidation or retaliation.

“Oftentimes, people have vital information, especially on insecurity, but they are afraid to disclose it because they fear for their safety,” he said.

He added that incorporating whistleblower protection into the PCC Act would provide legal safeguards for informants and facilitate information gathering by security agencies and other relevant institutions.

‘COMMISSION NEEDS STRONGER POWERS’

Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill during plenary, Imasuen said the PCC was established to provide citizens with an accessible mechanism for seeking redress against administrative injustice, abuse of office and arbitrary actions by public authorities.

He, however, argued that changes in governance, public administration, technology and citizens’ expectations had rendered the existing law inadequate for addressing contemporary challenges.

According to him, the bill seeks 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.

He said the proposed legislation would strengthen the commission’s independence and operational autonomy to ensure complaints are handled impartially, professionally and without undue interference.

Imasuen added that the bill would establish a comprehensive public interest disclosure and whistleblower protection framework to encourage individuals to report corruption, abuse of office, maladministration and other misconduct in the public and private sectors without fear of victimisation.

He said the legislation would strengthen administrative justice by providing citizens with a more effective avenue for redress, reduce bureaucratic arbitrariness, enhance public sector accountability and restore confidence in public institutions.

The senator added that the bill aligns Nigeria’s ombudsman system with international best practices, where independent ombudsman institutions play a critical role in protecting citizens’ rights, promoting good governance and improving public service delivery.

According to him, the proposed legislation is a strategic reform aimed at deepening democratic governance, strengthening the rule of law, enhancing transparency and promoting accountability in public administration.

Source: TheCable