By Ahmed Ajikobi
The Kwara State office of the Public Complaints Commission has said it received no fewer than 1,032 cases in two years while it investigated and resolved 838 cases for the same period.
The new Commissioner in charge of Kwara State, Hon Akintoba Fatigun stated this on Thursday when he led other members of the management team on an advocacy visit to the corporate headquarters of National Pilot.
According to him, since its establishment in 1975 by Decree 35 now CAP P37 of LFN 2004 to receive and investigate complaints from citizens against the actions and inactions of government agencies and officials, the commission had lived up to its statutory mandate adding that the large number of complaints it received and resolved on yearly basis stands it out.
Akintoba said his appointment was a step by the 7th and 8th legislatures to reinvigorate the commission by appointing commissioners at its headquarters and offices across the 36 states of the federation.
He said for inexplicable reasons, “the commission had not had a commissioner since 1996” and urged members of the public to make use of the commission to solve issues adding that it has the power to summon anyone in conjunction with the National Assembly.
He promised that the commission would thoroughly investigate any case(s) brought before it free of charge.
“The commission have legal department that will look into any case brought to us. We have public and private complaints sectors also.
“People should take advantage of this to settle cases and decongest the court so that the Supreme Court will be free to handle other serious issues. Instead of going to court, people can come to us and we will help you solve your problems.”
Akintoba said he had been informed that National Pilot has been a very good ally of the commission in its course to entrench administrative and social justice, noting that the visit will enhance the cooperation and collaboration that had always existed between the commission and National Pilot.
“I’m not surprised that, since you, Alhaji Billy Adedamola took over this medium, it has been a success story.
“In 2017, the Kwara State Office received a total of 750 complaints out of which 655 were investigated and resolved. In the first quarter of 2018 the office received 282 cases and had investigated and resolved 183.
In his remarks, the MD/Editor-in-Chief of National Pilot, Alhaji Billy Adedamola said it was a great honour to have the commissioner visit the medium on his first media advocacy tour adding that the newspaper will support the commission to boost and publicise it activities.
