?Senator Neda Imasuen has sponsored a pivotal bill aimed at repealing and re-enacting the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) Act, seeking to reposition the agency as a fiercely independent National Ombudsman Institution.

Leading the plenary debate, Imasuen explained that the legislative reform is designed to modernize and strengthen the PCC's legal framework in line with Section 315(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), contemporary governance realities, and internationally recognized ombudsman principles.

While the commission was originally established to give citizens an accessible mechanism to seek redress against administrative injustice and arbitrary actions, the lawmaker noted that "significant changes in governance, technology and public expectations have exposed the limitations of the existing law."

?The proposed bill explicitly expands the Commission’s investigative and operational autonomy, empowering it to aggressively investigate, mediate, and resolve complaints rooted in maladministration, unfair treatment, and institutional omissions by public authorities, public officers, and corporate bodies.

Imasuen emphasized that the legislation will broaden the PCC's inquiry powers, enabling it to demand critical documents and enforce compliance with the principles of fairness, accountability, transparency, and good governance across all public institutions.

By establishing a robust avenue for redress, the bill aims to systematically reduce bureaucratic arbitrariness while rebuilding waning public confidence in government agencies.

?A major structural innovation within the bill is the introduction of a comprehensive Public Interest Disclosure and Whistle-blower Protection Framework.

This mechanism is specifically engineered to encourage individuals to expose corruption, abuse of office, and improper conduct across both public and private sectors without fear of retaliation, intimidation, or victimization. The senator stressed that "protecting whistle-blowers is globally recognised as an essential tool for promoting integrity, transparency and accountability in governance."

?Framing the bill as a "strategic institutional reform," Imasuen noted that aligning Nigeria’s ombudsman system with international best practices will ultimately deepen democratic governance and entrench a culture of accountability in public administration. He successfully urged his colleagues to support the bill through its second reading, paving the way for deeper legislative scrutiny and critical stakeholder consultations in the public interest.