We have received 720 complaints in 10 months – PCC

The Public Complaints Commission in Abia State said it has received a total of 720 complaints from January to date in the state

The Federal Commissioner, Prince Madukwe Ukaegbu who disclosed this while featuring as a guest on Abia broadcasting corporation news and current Affairs program tagged ‘’ Issues of the Moment’ ’on Monday, said 40 percent of the complaints have been treated successfully to the satisfaction of both the respondents and the complainants.

He said the agency is committed to attending to complaints from various quarters without bias, adding that about 40 percent of the cases have been treated successfully to the satisfaction of both the respondents and the complainants”.

While noting that allits services are free of charge he encouraged Abians as well as all residents of the state to utilize the services of the Commission.

The Commissioner, who hinted that the Commission would be celebrating its 50 years of existence in Nigeria this month, appreciated the State Governor, Dr Alex Oti, for his commitment in repositioning the state

He identified funding as part of the challenges of the Commission, while calling on Nigerians to exercise patience with the Federal Government on its economic policies.

“We should encourage him and understand what he is doing, and the generation to come will really thank him. At least we should listen to him and see how we can all be dedicated to make sure that his reformation agenda is carried out effectively”, he said.

Prince Ukaegbu explained that the Commission, aside handling complaints for ministries, departments and agencies, also handles arbitration on civil matters across the country, and appreciated Nigerians for cooperation, patronage and confidence in the activities of the Commission.

Similarly, the Head, Abia State Ombudsman, Justice Kyrian Nwankpa (retd) who also spoke to  journalists on the achievements of the commission, stating, “this is a development that highlights its rising importance in tackling injustice and abuse of power across the state”, adding that the commission has so far treated 39 complaints and petitions since its establishment in 2025.

Justice Nwankpa said the cases handled so far cut across allegations of rights violations, administrative delays, disputes involving civil andservants, and disagreements between private individuals, noting that not all cases have been fully resolved, while explaining that recommendations have been forwarded to the appropriate agencies for action.

According to him, the Ombudsman is a “beacon for grassroots justice,” stressing that it provides a lifeline for ordinary citizens who might otherwise lack access to legal remedies.

Backed by the Abia State Ombudsman/Public Complaints Commission and Citizens’ Rights Commission Law 2025, the body he said, serves as an independent channel for complaints against government agencies and officials and compared the commission to the United Nations in its pursuit of fairness for vulnerable groups and likened it to a small claims court for its accessibility, speed, and simplicity.

He emphasized that while the Ombudsman does not handle criminal or conventional court cases, it plays a vital role in building trust between government institutions and the people and urged residents to submit petitions in writing to the Ombudsman’s Umuahia office, assuring that no complaint would be ignored and stressed the importance of the public using the platform to hold institutions accountable.

He also noted that the commission, though not yet officially inaugurated, has remained effective but would be strengthened with the appointment of four additional commissioners, stating, “This commission was designed to resolve disputes and strengthen citizens’ trust in government”.

Culled from punch