Akume, Soyinka, Anyaoku back PCC’s drive for justice, accountability

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka; and former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, have called for stronger accountability and improved justice delivery, urging the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) to strengthen its role in protecting citizens against administrative injustice.

The three prominent Nigerians made the call at the inaugural Nigerian Ombudsman Annual Conference, organised by the PCC in Abuja, where they highlighted the need for effective institutions, accessible complaint mechanisms and greater compliance with decisions intended to protect citizens’ rights.

Akume, who delivered a video message, described the conference theme, “System Building and Compliance: A Key Factor in Good Governance”, as timely, stressing that good governance required credible, transparent and accountable institutions capable of meeting citizens’ legitimate expectations.

He said the PCC, established in 1975 to address maladministration and provide citizens with an accessible avenue for redress, had an important role to play in identifying institutional weaknesses and promoting administrative reforms.

“Complaints should not be viewed merely as criticism of government. They are also valuable sources of information for identifying institutional weaknesses, improving administrative processes and preventing the recurrence of systemic failures,” Akume said.

The SGF called for stronger collaboration between the Commission and ministries, departments and agencies of government, alongside effective mechanisms for monitoring and implementing its recommendations.

He also urged the PCC to embrace digital technology to facilitate the submission, tracking and resolution of complaints while strengthening its institutional capacity and maintaining independence, impartiality and professionalism.

Akume said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remained committed to institutional reform, accountability, efficiency and improved public service delivery under its Renewed Hope Agenda.

Soyinka, however, challenged the Commission to address the persistent gap between court judgments and their actual implementation, lamenting that Nigerians could win cases but still be denied the justice they had sought.

“Why is it, for instance, that we cannot guarantee the implementation of a court judgment? Why is there such a disconnect between the plaintiff, the judgment itself, the judges, the entire structure of justice, and the victim who has sought justice?” he asked.

The Nobel laureate expressed concern that some litigants died without enjoying the benefits of favourable judgments. He cited cases in which court orders directing the restoration of passports had allegedly taken years to implement.

Describing such situations as “medicine after death”, Soyinka urged the PCC to make the issue a priority in its efforts to strengthen justice delivery.

“I would like to see these judgments implemented. I would like to see justice delivered, not merely pronounced,” he said.

He also questioned why court decisions concerning disputed land could be disregarded, allowing individuals to resort to violence and destruction rather than comply with lawful decisions.

Soyinka said the Commission had an opportunity to help bridge the gap between judicial decisions and the people entitled to benefit from them.

Anyaoku, in his remarks, stressed the need for greater public awareness of the Ombudsman’s services, describing the institution as an important avenue through which ordinary Nigerians could seek redress for unfair treatment.

He cited cases involving the non-payment of gratuities and pensions to retired or dismissed employees, as well as inadequate care for patients in public and private hospitals, as examples of administrative failures that could leave citizens aggrieved.

The former Commonwealth chief said the Ombudsman offered a less expensive and less cumbersome alternative for citizens seeking redress.

“In our relatively litigious society, which Nigeria is, I would like to stress the need for the widest possible public awareness of the less expensive and less cumbersome facility provided by the Ombudsman, which serves as a refuge for the aggrieved common man and woman,” he said.

Anyaoku expressed confidence in the leadership of the PCC’s Chief Commissioner, Bashir Abubakar, urging the conference to produce recommendations that would strengthen the Commission’s capacity to serve citizens.

The three interventions underscored the need to make justice more accessible, strengthen administrative accountability and ensure that institutions deliver practical results for Nigerians.

While Akume emphasised institutional reforms and compliance, Soyinka focused on the failure to implement court judgments, and Anyaoku called for greater awareness of the Ombudsman’s role in providing accessible redress.