Senate Moves to Strengthen PCC, Advances Bill to Create Independent National Ombudsman
By Raphael Ekpang
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Senate on Tuesday took firm steps to strengthen administrative justice and public sector accountability with the presentation of a bill seeking to repeal the existing Public Complaints Commission Act and re-enact it as the Public Complaints Commission Act, 2026.
Leading the debate on the proposed legislation, the sponsor Senator Neda Imasuen, said the bill is designed to modernise and strengthen the legal and institutional framework of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), repositioning it as an independent National Ombudsman Institution capable of addressing the realities of contemporary governance.
According to Imasuen, the existing law no longer adequately equips the Commission to respond to evolving challenges in public administration, technological advancement, and citizens’ growing expectations for transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery.
The bill seeks to enhance the Commission’s powers to receive, investigate, mediate, and resolve complaints arising from administrative injustice, abuse of office, maladministration, arbitrary actions, and unfair treatment by public authorities, public officers, and corporate bodies whose activities affect the rights and welfare of citizens.
A key feature of the proposed legislation is the strengthening of the Commission’s independence and operational autonomy to ensure impartiality, professionalism, and freedom from undue interference in the discharge of its responsibilities.
The bill also expands the Commission’s investigative powers, enabling it to conduct more effective inquiries, obtain relevant information and documents, make recommendations, and promote compliance with the principles of fairness, transparency, accountability, and good governance across public institutions.
Another major innovation contained in the bill is the establishment of a comprehensive Public Interest Disclosure and Whistle-blower Protection Framework. The framework is intended to encourage the reporting of àa bycorruption, abuse of office, maladministration, and other improper conduct in both public and private institutions by providing protection against intimidation, victimisation, retaliation, and other forms of adverse treatment.
The sponsor noted that effective whistle-blower protection is globally recognised as a critical tool for promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability in governance.
The proposed legislation is also expected to provide Nigerians with a more accessible and effective avenue for seeking redress against unfair administrative actions, reduce bureaucratic arbitrariness, strengthen public confidence in government institutions, and improve overall service delivery.
The bill further aligns Nigeria’s ombudsman system with internationally recognised best practices, where independent ombudsman institutions play a central role in protecting citizens’ rights, promoting good governance, and ensuring accountability in public administration.
Describing the proposal as more than an institutional reform, the sponsor said it represents a strategic intervention aimed at deepening democratic governance, strengthening the rule of law, enhancing transparency, and fostering a culture of accountability across the public sector.
The Senate has been urged to support the bill and allow it to proceed to Second Reading for further legislative scrutiny and extensive stakeholder consultation in the public interest.
