The Public Complaints Commission (PCC) in Yobe State has resolved 560 out of 897 complaints received from residents across the state’s 17 local government areas within its first year of operation.
The Federal Commissioner overseeing the Yobe office, Hassan Garba Katuzu, disclosed this in Damaturu during activities marking the commission’s 51st anniversary in Nigeria and the first anniversary of its Yobe office.
Katuzu said the resolved cases represented 62.4 per cent of the total complaints received, explaining that the commission relied on mediation, conciliation, dialogue and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to settle disputes without lengthy court proceedings.
The complaints covered land and family disputes, employer-employee disagreements, wrongful termination of appointments, unpaid entitlements, job scams, SIM ownership issues and electricity-related grievances.
He disclosed that the remaining 337 complaints were undergoing scrutiny ahead of further hearings.
The commissioner identified inadequate office accommodation, insufficient funding, shortage of operational vehicles and personnel, as well as limited public awareness in rural communities, as major challenges affecting the commission’s operations.
He also expressed concern over the failure of some respondents to honour invitations, which he said had hindered efforts to resolve certain cases.
The commission urged residents to report administrative injustice, abuse of power and unfair treatment, reaffirming its commitment to promoting accountability and protecting citizens’ rights.
The development highlights the importance of accessible dispute-resolution institutions in improving public accountability and ensuring that residents can seek redress without necessarily resorting to costly legal proceedings.
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