Recently, Trumpeta Newspaper led by the Editor-in-Chief, Mr Henry Ekpe, paid a visit to the Public Complaints Commission (OMBUDSMAN) located at the premises of Old Secretariat along Orlu Road Owerri. Sitting on his Executive Table, with a rocking chair, was the Imo State Commissioner of the Commission, Bar Ambrose Ugbaja, a native of Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, of Imo State.
Trumpeta took the experienced youthful Lawyer through various questions to ascertain the role of the OMDUDSMAN in the society, especially in Imo State where the populace are not much aware about the activities of the Public Complaints Commission. Here is the Excerpt.
Question: What is Public Complaints Commission?
Thank you very much for that question. Public Complaints Commission is an old concept which has been existing in European countries for years, especially in the Scandinavian Countries, where it got the name Ombudsman. It also exists in the United States of America, USA, Britain etc. It is a principle and policy that was conceptualized from the Parliament.
Because of the work-load of the Parliament, with heavy over-sight functions, it created the Ombudsman, a complaint commission where the people, the masses can go and drop their complaints for treatment and results.
The Commission was established in 1975 by Degree 31 during the General Yakubu Gowon era, and its first Commissioner was Alhaji Maitama Sule. Imo State office was established in 1978.
The Commission was more utilized during the Military regimes in the country. At this period, the masses ran to the Commission, as they saw it as the only democratic Agency where they could express themselves during a Military regime.
Infact, the military regime attached much importance to the Ombudsman and made great use of the Body, than the Civilian regimes. This was because, during the Democracy dispensation, Civilians allowed the Commission to decay and made it to become a department of the Government, instead of being Independent Body that fights corruption and discrimination in Government establishments and society. Government saw the Commission as a Body that has come to whittle its power.
But mid last year, the Leadership of the National Assembly appointed Commissioners to reinvigorate the offices in the states.
When I came here, I met no bicycle. My office was leaking, and all the offices dilapidated. My Investigative Officers still go on assignments on Keke, Government still don’t find the need to fund this Commission which is unfortunate. But Government will benefit a lot from the Commission, because it is very close to the masses, and complaints are not collected for any amount. All you need do is just to come here and submit your complaint free of charge. It is our duty to then look at the merit of the matters without collecting a dime from both the Complainants and Respondents.
Which kind of matters do you treat here?
We settle every kind of matter. Be it a personal matter or that involving Governments from the Local to the Federal Governments. We have the power as contained in the constitution of the Federal Republic to look into cases at all levels of Governments.
We treat Civil Service matters, like when you are due for promotion but because your Boss does not like your face or something, unjust sack from offices etc. Here is a certified peace making Commission. Here we try to make both the Complainants and the Respondents go home peacefully and not to quarrel again. You know that in court, you may have justice, but not peace.
How far have the Commission been able to solve some of the matters before it?
I assumed office here in 2012 and inherited 261 cases. However, since we came and because of our awareness programmess, the populace began to hear about the Commission and more cases are being brought here now every day. As at July this year, we had about seven hundred and seventy one (771) cases and we have been able to treat more than half of the number.
We are not short of staff here, but we need Lawyers. We have made our presentation on the Staff issue to the appropriate quarters and they have promised to look into matter soon.
But presently, I am the only Lawyer in the Commission. Although there are some Head Offices in States where non-Lawyers are incharge. As I said, we have made a memo and that has been accepted, and we pray that the authorities will comply.
What are you doing to create Awareness for the populace to be informed about the activities of this Commission?
Well, the first thing I did when I assumed office was to take the Staff back to the real concept of this Commission, because the situation we met on ground destroyed the psyche of the Workers. I had orientation programme, Workshop and Seminars for the Staff. We had enlightenment programmes in our Eight Area offices in Imo State, and engaged the Press also.
Before the end of this month, our News Letter will be out. By October this year we are going to have a public lecture on the essence of responsive Government in Imo State, where we will engage the market women, youths, clergy etc.
The essence of this Commission is to guarantee good Governance. Therefore, we would want to know from the people, the most responsive Government the State had ever had. Whether is the Military, or the Civilians. And if it is the Civilians, which Governor was more responsive to the yearning of the Masses?
How do you see the Civilian Administration in Imo State now?
I will say it is too early to asses the administration in Imo State. But since the Governor himself, Owelle Rochas Okorocha decided to assess his Commissioners by giving them Awards according to performance, if we judge based on his rating of his Commissioners, it means his Government has failed in the last two years.
The reason is that, none of the peculiar and important Commissioners manning the essential Ministries bagged the Governor’s Award. Gov Okorocha pays much attention to Education, Health and Community Government as the pivot of his administration’s thrust policy.
Now if the Commissioners for Education, Health, and Community Government could not win his Awards, it means his administration has failed in delivering those dividends to the people on which he anchored his policy to the masses.
How do you see your job generally?
I am in a familiar terrain. Having been in Legal Profession for many years, the job is therefore what I have been practicing for years. Except that the Commission lacks enough funds to match its challenges. I have about 48 staff here, and need logistics to carryout our assignments. But I thank God that so far we have done enough, and He will see us through.
The job is of a three year tenure, and renewable. I thank God for the excellent Staff I have, and I continue to ask for their corporation.
