PCC Boss Reveals ₦6bn Staff Debt, Pushes Digital Complaints, Grassroots Reach
PCC Boss Reveals ₦6bn Staff Debt, Pushes Digital Complaints, Grassroots Reach
PCC Boss Reveals ₦6bn Staff Debt, Pushes Digital Complaints, Grassroots Reach
The Chief Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Hon. Bashir Abubakar, has sounded the alarm over a staggering ₦6 billion owed to the Commission’s workforce, even as the agency rolls out plans for a nationwide digital transformation and grassroots expansion.
In an exclusive interview, Abubakar described the PCC as an institution long crippled by poor funding but now determined to reposition itself as a modern, tech-driven and people-centered “peacemaker” accessible to every Nigerian, from cities to the remotest villages.
He laid bare the deep financial strain that has left staff entitlements unpaid for years, blaming persistent funding shortfalls for the Commission’s limited visibility and reach.
“The Commission owes over ₦6 billion in salaries and benefits. Staff entitlements are short-changed. Funding is a menace, and this has taken a heavy toll on morale and on the effectiveness of our operations,” he said.
The financial crisis, he added, has paralyzed basic logistics critical to the agency’s public outreach and dispute resolution functions. The result is a disconnect from the very citizens the Commission was established to protect.
“Where there’s no funding, there’s little public awareness. Many Nigerians don’t even know we exist. That’s the painful truth,” he remarked.
While the PCC currently operates offices in all 36 states, its presence across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas remains patchy — a shortfall Abubakar is determined to fix with backing from the National Assembly and the Presidency.
“We couldn’t cover all LGAs, but under the current leadership of the National Assembly and the Presidency, we intend to fix this soon. Our mission is national peace, and we must be everywhere Nigerians are,” he vowed.
Undeterred by financial obstacles, the Commission is developing an electronic complaints platform designed to fast-track submissions, improve transparency, and modernize service delivery.
“We are moving to a digitalized system where complaints can be submitted electronically. This will ease facilitation, improve documentation and ensure cases are handled faster and more transparently,” Abubakar disclosed.
Beyond digital reforms, the Chief Commissioner emphasized the need for proactive, decentralized dispute resolution, revealing that state-level federal commissioners will soon have the autonomy to resolve cases without waiting for approval from Abuja.
“If you see two people fighting, do you call your dad or HQ first? No! You act. We’re peacemakers — no permission needed to reconcile Nigerians,” he said, reframing the PCC’s role as an on-the-spot, action-first mediator for national harmony.
Abubakar also praised the National Assembly leadership for prioritizing the Commission’s funding woes, expressing optimism that ongoing collaborations with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and the Presidency would soon resolve the financial bottleneck.
“We’re working with the Senate and House leadership. God willing, this will be resolved. Robust programs and stronger citizen participation are coming,” he stated.
In a powerful closing note, Abubakar reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to unity and peace, even amid its challenges.
“We produce peace. We enact it. Whether as individuals, groups, or a nation, our job is to introduce parameters for harmony. But to do this, we must be everywhere, from cities to villages,” he declared.
