OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
The Federal Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) in Ogun State, Hon. Morakinyo Ogo-Oluwa Akinleye, has called for stronger collaboration between the Commission and the media to boost public awareness of the agency's mandate and encourage Nigerians to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in addressing administrative grievances.
Akinleye made the appeal during a courtesy visit by members of the League of Yewa-Awori Media Practitioners (LOYAMP), led by its Convener and National President, Elhadj Abu-Satar Hamed, at the Commission's office in the Federal Secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The Commissioner described the media as a critical partner in educating citizens about the role of the Public Complaints Commission, popularly known as Nigeria's Ombudsman, stressing that many Nigerians remain unaware of the Commission's services despite its constitutional mandate.
He urged individuals who suffer administrative injustice or have complaints against public and private institutions to first seek redress through the Commission's ADR mechanism instead of resorting to lengthy and expensive litigation.
According to him, the Ogun State office has successfully intervened in numerous disputes involving workers denied salaries, pensions, gratuities and other legitimate entitlements, as well as complaints against government agencies and other institutions.
Akinleye disclosed that the Commission had facilitated the recovery of more than ₦100 million in unpaid salaries, benefits and other financial entitlements for complainants in the state.
He explained that the Commission adopts a structured complaint-handling process, beginning with the formal submission of complaints, followed by a case conference where all parties are invited to present their positions in a bid to achieve an amicable settlement.
"The process gives both the complainant and the respondent the opportunity to explain their positions and resolve disputes without unnecessary confrontation," he said.
He noted that matters beyond the Commission's jurisdiction are referred to appropriate authorities, including the police, the National Industrial Court and other relevant agencies, depending on the nature of the complaint.
Akinleye recalled that the Public Complaints Commission was established in 1975 by the administration of the late Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, to address administrative injustice and provide Nigerians with an accessible avenue for redress.
Reflecting on his assumption of office in October 2024, the Commissioner identified low public awareness as one of the major challenges confronting the Commission in Ogun State.
"When I resumed here in October 2024, I discovered that awareness about the PCC in the state was at its lowest ebb. I had to embark on radio and television programmes to sensitise the public about our activities and mandate," he said.
He stressed that closer collaboration with print, broadcast and online media organisations would significantly improve public understanding of the Commission's constitutional responsibilities.
"We are established to correct administrative injustice in both the private and public sectors. There is therefore the need to partner with the media so that more Nigerians will know where to seek help whenever they are treated unfairly," Akinleye said.
The Commissioner added that the Commission's conciliatory approach, anchored on Alternative Dispute Resolution, has yielded positive results, revealing that more than 100 cases had been successfully resolved in recent times.
"We are not magisterial in our approach. We rely on Alternative Dispute Resolution, and it has produced tremendous results. Where we cannot resolve a matter, we refer it to the appropriate authority for further action," he added.
Earlier, LOYAMP Convener and National President, Elhadj Abu-Satar Hamed, commended the Commissioner and his management team for receiving the delegation.
Hamed said the association was established as an independent professional body to advance the interests of media practitioners in Ogun West while promoting responsible journalism and grassroots information dissemination.
He noted that the socio-economic, cultural and geographical diversity of Ogun West underscored the need for broader media representation and stronger engagement with communities across the senatorial district.
According to him, LOYAMP seeks to bridge existing gaps in media representation by projecting the developmental aspirations of Yewa-Awori communities while contributing to democratic governance and community development through ethical journalism.
"Our membership comprises experienced media practitioners whose professional activities continue to contribute significantly to public information, community development and democratic engagement across Yewa-Awori and beyond," Hamed said.
The visit also provided an opportunity for both organisations to explore areas of collaboration in public enlightenment, citizens' access to information, responsible journalism and increased awareness of the Public Complaints Commission's dispute-resolution mechanisms.
Both parties reaffirmed the important role of the media in connecting government institutions with citizens and ensuring that members of the public are aware of available channels for seeking redress against administrative injustice.
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