By Uko Akpanuko
The Chief Nigerian Ombudsman. Hon. Abimbola Ayo-Yusuf has described the recommendation by the Orasanya Report for the Public Complaints Commission to be subsumed by the National Human Rights Commission as erroneous stressing that the recommendaton is not in line with global practice.
The Hon. Chief. Commissioner Hon. Abimbola Ayo_Yusuf made this assertion yesterday when he led a team of Federal Commissioners of the Commission along with management staff to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
He said he was in the SGF's office to seek his intervention to cause the Federal Government to reconsider its decision on the Commission’s existence as a Statutory body. He added that the Act establishing the Commission is entrenched in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the decision to temper with such a globally recognized institution could adversely affect the nation.
The Chief Ombudsman wondered why an organization with wider powers and bigger structure which is under the National Assembly would be subsumed by an agency under the Executive. He reminded the SGF that the recommendation had earlier been rejected during President Goodluck Jonathan administration by a White Paper drafting Committee headed by Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), the then Attorney General of the Federation in its wisdom in consideration of the importance of the Ombudsman in any democratic nation.
Hon. Abimbola drew the attention of the SGF to the role of the Commission in promoting and supporting the rule of law, good Governance and protecting human rights through its fight against maladministration and corruption. He added that since its creation 47 years ago, PCC has remained the court of the common man where the less privileged lodge their complaints concerning administrative actions by public Authorities and companies.
He stated that PCC is currently a member of the International Ombudsman Association and African Ombudsman and Mediators Association, AOMA where it occupies the position of a Deputy Secretary General . He reminded the government that International legal instruments such as United Nations and African Union which Nigeria is a signatory to have made the existence and inviolability of the Ombudsman mandatory because of its role in promoting and supporting democracy and constitutional order.
Responding, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume who reaffirmed the important role the Commission is playing in the country said all the issues raised by the Commission has been noted and will be considered.
He commended the leadership of the Commission for the timely efforts they are making and promised to submit their recommendations to the Committee.
It will be recalled that the Federal government had on 28th February, 2024 announced that part of the 12 years Orosanye Report would be implemented and on 7th March, 2024 a Committee headed by the SGF was inaugurated to implement the Orosanya Report which recommended the scapping and merger of some ministries, Departments and Agencies to cut the cost of Governance.
Among the powerful entourage of the Honourable Chief Commissioner were Hon. Yusuf Adamu, Federal Commissioner Borno State, Hon. Olukayode Bamisele, Federal Commissioner, Ekiti State, Hon. Dahaltu Ezekiel Musa, Federal Commissioner FCT and the Secretary of the Commission, Hajiya Salamatu Jummai Mamman as well as top management staff of the Commission's Headquarters.