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The Public Complaints Commission (PCC) has disclosed that about 562,296 public complaints are yet to be addressed.
It divulged that it has resolved 716,688 complaints out of 1,281,984 cases recorded in over 50 years.
PCC Chief Commissioner, Bashir Abubakar, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, said he has introduced reforms designed to strengthen the Commission’s capacity to investigate complaints of maladministration, corruption, abuse of office and related misconduct, while safeguarding the rights of Nigerians in their dealings with public institutions and relevant private-sector organisations.
He said the PCC, established in 1975, is mandated to promote administrative justice by investigating complaints against public institutions at all levels of government and private-sector organisations covered by its enabling legislation.
Abubakar said the Commission had embarked on a series of administrative, financial and operational reforms to improve its responsiveness to citizens and strengthen its capacity to discharge its mandate.
He identified the creation of new directorates to improve operational efficiency, increased monthly allocations to state offices, including the Federal Capital Territory, and upgrades to the Commission’s information and communications technology facilities as part of the measures introduced to improve its operations.
According to him, the Commission has also upgraded its call centre to enhance communication with the public and intensified publicity to increase awareness of its services and encourage more Nigerians to seek redress when they experience administrative injustice.
On staff development, Abubakar disclosed that the Commission trained more than 1,185 personnel in 2025 and had recorded over 3,410 training participations in 2026 as part of efforts to improve staff competence and productivity.
He said the training programmes, alongside the provision of modern technology and improved working facilities, were intended to equip personnel with the skills and resources required to handle complaints more efficiently.
The Chief Commissioner also highlighted improved funding as a key component of the reforms, saying the Commission had proposed and recommended an increase of more than 100 per cent in its Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), resulting in improved budgetary allocation.
He added that monthly allocations to state offices had been increased to strengthen their operations and improve their capacity to attend to complaints from members of the public.
Abubakar further disclosed that the Commission had conducted biometric verification across its offices nationwide to establish a verifiable staff nominal roll and improve workforce management.
He said the exercise was part of efforts to establish a more reliable personnel database and promote operational efficiency across the Commission.
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The Chief Commissioner also linked the repositioning efforts to improvements in staff welfare and industrial relations, disclosing that the Commission commenced full salary payments under the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) in July 2026.
He said the administration had also addressed outstanding wage-award arrears and promotion arrears for 2024 and 2025.
Abubakar disclosed that 1,070 employees were promoted in 2025, while another 1,270 received promotions in 2026.
He added that the management had maintained industrial harmony with the various unions through sustained engagement and an open-door policy aimed at fostering a cordial working relationship between management and staff.
Beyond internal reforms, the Chief Commissioner said the Commission was strengthening its collaboration with ministries, departments and agencies, as well as non-governmental organisations, to facilitate quicker resolution of complaints.
He also said the PCC was consolidating partnerships with regional, continental and international ombudsman institutions to exchange knowledge and adopt best practices in the administration of justice.
According to him, the Commission’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2025 provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships with stakeholders and attract further support for its mandate.
Abubakar expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the Budget Office, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and other stakeholders for their support towards the Commission’s reforms.
As part of efforts to promote stronger institutions and improve governance, the PCC is scheduled to hold its first Nigerian Ombudsman Conference on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
The conference, themed “System Building and Compliance: Key Factors to Good Governance,” is expected to bring together the Commission’s founding fathers, policymakers and decision-makers to examine the importance of effective systems and institutional compliance in achieving good governance.
Abubakar said the conference would provide a platform to draw attention to the relationship between strong institutions, effective administrative systems and improved public service delivery.
The Commission’s renewed reform drive comes as it seeks to strengthen its capacity to address complaints, improve access to administrative justice and enhance public confidence in its role as Nigeria’s ombudsman.
