Senate Advances Senator Neda Imasuen’s Bill to Reposition Public Complaints Commission as an Independent National Ombudsman Institution
Senator Imasuen
By Reporter
The Senate has passed for Second Reading a landmark bill sponsored by the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, Senator Neda B. Imasuen, seeking to repeal and re-enact the Public Complaints Commission Act.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Public Complaints Commission Act, Cap P37, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Re-enact the Public Complaints Commission Act, 2026, in line with Section 315(5)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), to reposition the Commission as an Independent National Ombudsman Institution and for Related Matters” (SB. 1040), was debated and overwhelmingly supported by senators before being referred to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for further legislative consideration.
The proposed legislation seeks to modernize the legal framework governing the Public Complaints Commission by strengthening its independence, enhancing its institutional capacity, and aligning its operations with constitutional provisions and internationally accepted standards for national ombudsman institutions.
The bill is designed to reinforce the Commission’s role as an impartial institution for the protection of citizens against administrative injustice, abuse of authority, and maladministration in both public institutions and agencies. It also seeks to improve access to administrative justice by providing Nigerians with a more effective, credible, and independent mechanism for the resolution of complaints against public authorities.
Speaking on the bill, Senator Imasuen reiterated that accountable governance cannot thrive without strong institutions capable of safeguarding the rights of citizens.
According to him, the proposed legislation is a significant step towards deepening transparency, promoting accountability in public administration, and restoring public confidence in one of Nigeria’s foremost grievance redress institutions.
The passage of the bill for Second Reading marks another important milestone in Senator Imasuen’s legislative agenda to strengthen democratic institutions, improve governance, and ensure that public institutions remain responsive, transparent, and accountable to the Nigerian people.
