Features
Seeking Redress Through PCC
By most accounts, the Nigerian democracy is gradually yielding dividends across all strata of the nation’s economy. Observers note that in spite of occasional hiccups, sectors such as oil and gas, communications, agriculture, transportation and even the media industry have been experiencing a positive turn around under the current democratic setting.
For instance, a lawyer, Mr. Habeeb Lawal notes that the evolving democratic culture in the country has appreciably reduced instances of abuse of power.
“With democracy, citizens are now free to speak out on any issue,”, Lawal says, stressing that the current state of freedom has even affected the country’s judiciary as judges are now enjoying greater latitude to dispense justice without fear.
However, analysts say that one of the most remarkable dividends of democracy is the restoration of order, fairness and good service delivery across the nation’s public and private sectors.
One major institutional vehicle used in tackling the menace of administrative injustice in Nigeria today is the Public Complaints Commission (PCC). Observers note the rising patronage of the commission by the citizens for the redress of their assorted grievances is paving way for justice.
The feats recorded by the PCC in curbing social and administrative injustices have galvanized the citizens to look up to the commission for solutions to their grievances.
In the last two years, the PCC has received about 51,000 petitions on alleged injustices while resolving about 32,457 of the cases.
Mr. Eteng Otu, the National Secretary of the PCC, says that the petitions on unjust conducts, punitive, exploitative and unlawful termination of appointments, as well as other negative tendencies against helpless citizens, were received from aggrieved citizens seeking redress.
One of such complaints was received from a 34-year-old woman, Mrs Rhoda Eugine, who was allegedly defrauded of N6,000 through the ATM machine of her bank. As at the time she was swindled, Eugine did not possess an ATM card for her bank account.
“It was very painful to Mrs Eugine because the incident happened at a time when N6,000 was very much valuable to her. The lady said that she went to the bank to withdraw some money, only to find her account in red,” an official of the PCC says.
The official, who preferred anonymity, says that Eugine promptly lodged a complaint with the bank’s customer care unit but to no avail.
Perturbed by the seeming indifference of the bank to her plight, Eugine resolved to lodge a complaint with the PCC and according to the official, Eugine’s complaint received the commission’s prompt attention “as if we were dealing with a case involving a fraud of N6 million.
“Within few weeks of our intervention, the bank apologized and credited her account with the amount,” he says.
Another recent case that received the quick intervention of the PCC was the one involving a civil servant, who bought a property under the recent monetization programme of the Federal Government.
In a clandestine manner, the civil servant’s ownership right to the property was revoked, while the mortgage institution through which she paid for the house, wrote to inform her that the money had been refunded, as the property had been reclassified “Not for Sale”.
The woman sought the assistance of a legal firm and the firm aided her in forwarding a petition to the PCC, which promptly swung into action.
The case was thoroughly investigated by the PCC’s operatives who found that the complainant was “unduly oppressed by a power-drunk officer”, who connived with the mortgage institution to revoke her ownership of the house, just because the civil servant refused to accommodate a relative of her boss.
It was learnt that “The commission recommended some punitive measures for the erring officials, while the woman regained the possession of the building.”
The recommendation of punitive measures and sanctions, according to Mr. Ewa Udu of the Legal and Investigations Unit of the PCC, is in line with the provisions of the Act establishing the PCC, which empowers the commission to do so whenever it is necessary.
The list of PCC grievance redressal activities appears endless. Under the current democratic dispensation, many citizens, including corporate bodies, who feel exploited, cheated or duped by individuals, government officials or corporate organizations now prefer to take their case to the PCC.
The less-privileged members of the society are now becoming more conscious of the grievance-redress potential of the national ombudsman.
Mrs Wunmi Adetoye, a public servant whose appointment was restored after a wrongful dismissal, urged the Federal Government to fund the PCC adequately so as to enable it discharge its functions without any encumbrances.
“The PCC is an agency that takes care of the masses,” Adetonye says, adding, however, that many people are still suffering from various forms of injustice out there”.
Adetoye urges the citizens to avail themselves of the services of the PCC which, she notes, are “free and very effective”.
She, nonetheless, advocates the strengthening of the commission’s power to enforce its recommendations and sanctions.
Mr. Ibrahim Sanusi, a senior officer in one of the government agencies in Abuja, is full of praises for the PCC for its roles in securing his reinstatement after a wrongful termination of his appointment.
Although the reinstatement battle lasted about two years, the wrongfully dismissed officer laughed last after the determination of his case, the PCC. Sanusi, however, wants the Federal Government to review the Act establishing the commission to provide for distinctive powers to enforce its recommendations and sanctions, while “Government agencies and departments must be made to comply with recommendations of the PCC within a given time-frame”.
A lawyer, Mr. Richard Oluyode, says that the PCC should operate under the supervision and control of the National Assembly, adding that such practice is obtainable in some countries, as it enhances the functions and effectiveness of the ombudsman.
“The placing of the PCC under the control of the National Assembly will give the commission an aura of independence and this will invariably enhance its service delivery,” he says.
A businessman, Sir Peter Nzeribe, whose wife was a beneficiary of PCC’s services after having a rough deal in one of the government agencies, urges the government to properly fund the PCC and give it all the wherewithal it requires to function optimally.
“In the current democratic setting, an agency like the PCC is a tonic for good governance. It is supposed to play pivotal roles in democratic governance, as it remains the easiest channel of seeking redress for grievances, particularly within the public service and the private sector,’ says Mrs Sumbo Folorunsho, a retired journalist.
Folorunsho stresses the need to ensure increased funding for the PCC, saying “Funds expended to promote the people’s happiness and minimize injustice as well as oppression are well-spent. I think such money is by all means, well-spent.”
The PCC’s National Secretary, Mr. Otu concedes that the greatest challenges facing the commission include those relating to funding, manpower development and infrastructural growth.
“Investigation is capital intensive activity and with the volume of complaints coming into our offices across the country, we certainly need a big boost in our budgetary allocation to cope and bring smiles to the faces of Nigerians who are cheated and aggrieved,” he says.
Otu attributes the increasing patronage of PCC to the commission’s public enlightenment programmes via the mass media, including phone-in radio programmes, the PR-WIRE Service of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), as encouraged by the democratic climate.
According to him, the PCC is being repositioned to ensure that complainants obtain redress for their grievances within the shortest time, adding that plans are also underway to strengthen the report-writing and investigative skills of PCC officials.
Observers, however, say that tangible efforts should be made to strengthen agencies, whose functions are aimed at enhancing social justice, boosting societal contentment and giving the citizens a real sense of belonging and relevance.
Lawal writes for the News Agency of Nigeria.
Biola Lawal
From the fore going, the fight against drug trafficking should be treated as an international challenge with open collaboration, if the world leadership must win the fight!.
The circumstances or should I say the improvement on drug related activities are modifying and updating on daily basis. A close friend of mine in the United States of America who recently visited Jamaica, came with a lot of complicated information about drug trafficking and transaction. Being a qualified Nurse in US and on a visit to the Reggae Country (Jamaica), she said she was put aback when a man approached her and introduced himself as a Pharmacist. According to her, she immediately picked interest due to her professional background. To her, a business partner is birthed. But she was shocked to the narrows on learning that drug dealers or traffickers and subriquited Pharmacist in that Country. From her account, they ( The Jamaican Pharmacists), are the first set to people to meet and greet you at the Airport. No government or authority challenges them in the open due to the sophisticated nature of their transportation
Come to think of it, who would want to attack a Pharmacist on duty? Nigerians are not left out in the improvement on drug deal. A chat with a confident in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) Rivers State Command, so revealed. The Officer draw my attention to the movement of Dispatch Riders. He said part of the reasons they ride with almost speed equivalent of the thunder lightning, is to meet up with the appointment of delivering hard drug consignment to a client of theirs. According to him, those guys popularly referred to as Yahoo Boys are the ones who now payroll dispatch riders so that they can deliver their consignment ( hard drugs) on schedule no matter the sort of traffic or weather condition. The fear of loosing rich clients and that of the unknown treatment that may come of the Boys, as the officer puts it, drives the Riders crazy thus the reason to speed even at the expense of their lives.
The account of a prominent Party Promoter, Wayne Anthony, as obtained online recently, also pointed out that ‘No Legislation Will Stop Clubbers From Doing Drugs’ Party promoter, Wayne Anthony, arrived in Ibiza, a Spanish Island in 1988, at the same time as dance music and the party drug ecstasy. Despite hallucinating badly enough to make him give up the lifestyle forever, he says laws will never stop clubbers taking drugs. “I don’t think you can control these things,” said former party promoter Wayne Anthony. He arrived in Ibiza in 1988 and began setting up club nights and raves in some of the island’s most iconic venues. In the years that followed, the sleepy Spanish island turned into a raver’s haven of clubbing and hedonism, with party drugs like ecstasy commonly found. “What Ibiza represented was this beautiful, hot island which was visually stunning and we knew you could party there quite legally,” said Wayne. “You didn’t have to look over your shoulder. You could just be as free as you possibly could be.”
That freedom came with a price. Along with the lavish clubs, all-day-benders and hot Spanish sun came drug cartels and crime. The city transformed into one the world’s most vibrant party capitals, “fuelled by a dangerous and lucrative drugs trade which drew as many criminals to its shores as it did party animals”. Wayne, one of the contributors to the documentary, spoke to Sky News ahead of its release.”I’m not going to sit here and say the cartels aren’t there. They are all there and they’ve been there from the ’90s,” said Wayne. But he said most people tried to ignore the organised crime going on around them. According to Wayne, clubbers usually took the approach of: “‘Give me 10 E’s . Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Hallucinating giant spiders Although he described the Balearic island as the “motherland”, it was eventually a bad experience with drugs that convinced Wayne it was time to leave Ibiza.
He’d been partying for days when he realised he’d taken too many drugs. A friend told him to drink cough medicine, dangerous advice that he now says could have killed him. “I saw the worst hallucination I’ve ever seen in all of my life. I ended up locking myself in the villa with all the shutters down. When he sobered up, he realised he had “come to the end” of his party life on the island. “I never looked back. I never took another drug. I got away from the club world.” ‘I don’t think you’re going to be able to stop it’ Despite his life-changing experience, he doesn’t think criminalising drugs is a good idea – or particularly effective. “If you’re old enough to vote for who’s going to be a world leader, if you’re old enough to put your name down on debt for 25 years, I feel like you should be old enough to govern what you put inside your own body, you know?” said Wayne.
Back to Nigeria, some illicit drugs worth over N30billion seized at Onne Port in Rivers State.
This blood chilling development forced the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency at the Onne Port, following what authorities described as repeated incidents of importation of dangerous cargo, including arms and ammunition through the said port. To this effect, the government said it was immediately implementing emergency protocols at Onne Port for the next three months by conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers in the premises.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, in charge of the port via a press conference, said it henceforth, unveiled the seizures of illicit goods by the Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. In defence for his action, Adeniyi said the recurring incidents posed a threat to national security, adding that the health of citizens at the Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo, describing it as a disturbing trend.
The customs boss stated, “Earlier today, I joined numerous stakeholders to take a significant step towards the cause of trade facilitation through the inauguration of upgraded facilities provided by the West Africa Container Terminal, Onne. “As I express delight that trade facilitation is getting traction in Onne Port, I cannot help but call your attention to a grave concern. This has to do with the repeated incidents of national security breaches unfolding in Onne Port. I appreciate your presence, as we all have a shared responsibility in safeguarding our national security. As we are all aware, the policy thrust of Mr President supports the re-energising of our business environment to drive faster import clearance and grow our capacity for exports, Our emphasis has been to promote initiatives that speak to Trade facilitation and economic development. “It is a matter of regret that criminal elements in the international supply chain are exploiting our pro-trade stance to commit atrocities bordering on national security breaches”.
“The attempts to test our will through the importation of dangerous cargo through this port has necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in Onne Port, coming on the heels of a seizure of a huge cache of arms a couple of months ago. It is disheartening that perpetrators have not backed down on their illegal acts. Recent intelligence and seizures have revealed a disturbing trend; Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo. The scale and nature of these illegal importations pose a significant threat to our national security and the health of our citizens. Today, we are here to showcase yet another series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command. On display are twelve containers of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination. Seizures on Display include: Three (3) x 40-feet containers: Containing 562,600 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine and 3,150 pieces of chilly cutters, with a Paid Duty Value (DPV) of N4,716,573,846.
“Others are, three x 40-feet containers containing 380,000 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, and other items, with a DPV of N17,432,506,000 were seized”.
According to the report, more seized items were, “Five (5) x 40-feet containers; Containing 892,400 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 1,300,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, and other items, with a DPV of N8, 128,568,295,90. This very action of the Nigeria Customs Service, further complicated the hope of how soon the fight against drug trafficking could be brought to a halt owing to its high profile nature.
Another hair-raising report of the illicit drug deal has it that when NDLEA bursted a Snake-Guarded Shrine Used For Storing Illicit Drugs sometime ago in Edo State. This very news report was published in The Tide Newspaper on June 24, 2024. According to the report, NDLEA said its operatives uncovered a shrine, guarded by a snake, being used for storing illicit drugs, during an operation in Edo State. The Agency in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, added that its operatives discovered a specially constructed large hole in a wall, hidden behind wallpapers and fetish objects used for drug storage. It further noted that methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis with a total weight of 8.743kg among others, were recovered from the shrine.
To be cont’d
King Onunwor
The persistent clash between farmers and herders in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue. These conflicts, often, over resources like land and water, have led to loss of lives, destruction of property, displacement of large numbers of people, deep-seated mistrust between communities and insecurity. Herders, traditionally nomadic, move their livestock in search of grazing land and water. Farmers, on the other hand, require the same resources for their crops. This competition often leads to clashes, especially in areas where land is becoming increasingly scarce due to population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation. As these clashes intensify, there has been a growing call for sustainable solutions. Two weeks ago, President Bola Tinubu took a bold step towards tackling the issue by inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms and creating the Ministry of Livestock Development.
The committee which has the president as the chairman and the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega as the deputy chairman has the mandate to address obstacles to agricultural productivity and open up new opportunities which benefit farmers, herders, processors, and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain as well as propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers, ensuring the security and economic well-being of Nigerians.The establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development was part of the recommendations of the National Livestock Reforms Committee. Part of the 21 recommendations submitted to the president include: “This agenda should include the establishment and resuscitation of grazing reserves as suggested by many experts and well-meaning Nigerians and other methods of land utilisation.
“Create the Ministry of Livestock Resources in line with practice in many other West African countries. In the alternative, Federal and State Governments should expand the scope of existing Departments of Livestock Production to address the broader needs of the industry,” among others. Experts in the agricultural sector have posited that the livestock industry can create millions of jobs directly in farming, processing, and distribution, and indirectly in related sectors like feed production, veterinary services, and marketing. It provides livelihoods for rural populations, helping to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in rural areas. It also increases the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign exchange earnings through the exports of livestock and livestock products such as meat, dairy, wool and leather.
According to them, a well-funded livestock industry supports the growth of agro-processing sectors, such as meat packing, dairy processing, and leather manufacturing, adds value to raw products and creates additional economic activity as well as stimulates the development of supply chains, including logistics, packaging, and retail, contributing to broader economic growth. It enhances economic resilience by diversifying the agricultural sector and providing a buffer against crop failures or other agricultural shocks and many more. Some other agriculturists have also opined that the livestock industry in Nigeria is currently underdeveloped and that by the creation of the ministry of livestock development will open up the industry which will be a huge money spinner for Nigeria.
Reports have shown that a Livestock Ministry can play a pivotal role in mitigating conflicts between farmers and herders by implementing policies and programmes aimed at fostering coexistence and sustainable resource management. The Ministry can work towards clearly demarcating grazing routes and farming areas. This would reduce instances of trespassing and accidental crop destruction, a common flashpoint for conflict. While introducing rotational grazing systems can ensure that land is used sustainably, preventing overgrazing and land degradation, establishing water points and boreholes specifically for livestock can reduce competition for water resources. Similarly, promoting the development of pasturelands through reseeding and controlled burns can improve grazing conditions.
According to a veterinary doctor, Dr Andrew Obadiah, by providing training for herders on sustainable livestock practices and for farmers on conflict resolution, both parties can understand the importance of coexistence. He said that extension services of the ministry can offer advice on improving livestock health and productivity, reducing the need for large herds and extensive grazing. “Setting up local committees involving both farmers and herders to mediate disputes can provide a platform for dialogue and peaceful resolution. Encouraging community-based conflict early warning systems can help prevent clashes before they escalate”, he emphasised.For Mrs. Stella Ugwu, a farmer, having a ministry dedicated to the development of the livestock industry can help in diversifying income sources for both farmers and herders and in turn reduce dependence on land.
”For instance, promoting agro-pastoralism can provide farmers with livestock and herders with agricultural produce”, she explained, adding that providing incentives for adopting sustainable practices, such as subsidies for fodder production or crop insurance, can ease economic pressures. Ugwu was however of the opinion that the creation of a new ministry to handle livestock affairs was uncalled for, since the job can effectively be done by the Technical and Service Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and food security and its equivalent on the states level.In some countries, the establishment of a Livestock Ministry or similar bodies has shown promising results. For example, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture includes a dedicated department for livestock which has successfully implemented programmes to improve pastoral livelihoods and reduce conflicts.
In Kenya, the establishment of the National Drought Management Authority has helped manage resources better, thus reducing clashes between herders and farmers during dry seasons.The president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Othman Ngelzarma, sees the Ministry of Livestock Development achieving the same feat for Nigeria in the near future. He told newsmen that, “MACBAN expresses its deepest appreciation to the Federal Government for creating a ministry of livestock to unlock the trillion-naira livestock economy and create qualitative and productive jobs across the value chain to improve the Nigerian economy. With this development, MACBAN believes the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, the Middle Belt Forum took a different view of the proposed Ministry of Livestock Development, saying it was not enough to sustainably resolve the decades-long farmers-herders crisis in the country. According to the National President of the association, Mr. Bitrus Pogu, what is needed to end the perennial farmers/herders clashes is a deliberate action by regulatory bodies and the government to stop criminal elements from carrying out deadly attacks on innocent Nigerians, mainly farmers. Hear him: “If the reason for creating the Ministry is to stop clashes, I think it is wrong because all of these attacks and killings that are happening have nothing to do with conflicts between farmers and herders. “Farmers have never connived at any given time to go and attack herders, but rather, criminals who happen to be Fulani gang up and attack farmers, kill, maim and chase them out of their ancestral homes.
“Then, the Fulani will come and occupy them. So, it is more about invasion, criminality, and terrorism. And the majority of those they hire to do these evils are not even those who have cattle. So, a deliberate action has to be taken by the government against the perpetrators, which will address the criminality.” Mr. Pogu suggested that the government should adopt ranching for productivity and enduring peace between the pastoralists and farmers in particular and the entire country in general.While the establishment of a Livestock Ministry presents a viable solution, it is not without challenges. Funding constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and corruption can hamper its effectiveness. Additionally, deeply ingrained cultural practices and mistrust between farmers and herders can be difficult to overcome.
Critics argue that without a holistic approach that includes land reform, climate change adaptation, and broader economic development, a Livestock Ministry alone may not be sufficient. Therefore, it must work in tandem with other governmental and non-governmental bodies to ensure comprehensive solutions. “A dedicated Livestock Ministry, with its focus on sustainable resource management, conflict resolution, and economic incentives, offers a promising avenue to address the root causes of these clashes. However, its success depends on effective implementation, adequate funding, and the cooperation of all stakeholders involved. With the right strategies and commitment, devoid of any political or selfish interest, it can play a crucial role in fostering peace and prosperity in affected regions”, they advised.
Calista Ezeaku