By Nefishetu Yakubu
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Sen. Neda Imasuen, says his proposed bill seeks to strengthen the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) to improve service delivery and protect whistleblowers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a bill for an act to repeal the Public Complaints Commission Act and re-enact the Public Complaints Commission Act, 2026 passed through second reading during plenary on Tuesday.
NAN also reports that the bill being sponsored by Imasuen seeks to reposition the commission as an independent national ombudsman institution.
Imasuen, who addressed newsmen after presenting the bill for second reading in the senate, said the legislation would repeal and re-enact the Public Complaints Commission Act to align it with current realities.
He said the existing law, enacted over two decades ago, required comprehensive review to reflect technological advancements and strengthen the commission’s capacity to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
According to him, the proposed legislation will 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 said one of the key innovations in the bill was the establishment of a comprehensive whistleblower protection framework to encourage citizens to provide useful information without fear.
“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 embedding whistleblower protection in the PCC Act would provide legal safeguards for informants and encourage greater cooperation with relevant authorities.
“If this framework becomes law, information gathering will become much easier for security agencies and other relevant institutions,” he added.
Responding to questions, Imasuen explained that the commission primarily handled civil complaints and disputes, particularly for citizens unable to afford litigation, while criminal matters would be referred to appropriate law enforcement agencies.
He clarified that petitions to the committee must follow established legislative procedures, either through a senator representing the petitioner’s constituency or by referral from the Senate President to the relevant committee.
The senator expressed optimism that stakeholders, including the media, would participate actively during the public hearing to scrutinise and enrich the proposed legislation before its eventual passage(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
NY/KOO
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa