Go digital, Tinubu charges Public Complaints Commission

Digital Transformation for Accountability: Tinubu’s Call to the Public Complaints Commission

At the 2025 Global Ombudsman Summit in Abuja, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued a compelling directive to the Public Complaints Commission (PCC): embrace digitalisation or risk obsolescence.

Speaking through Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Tinubu emphasized that the PCC must evolve to meet the demands of a digitally driven governance landscape.

The summit, which also marked the 50th anniversary of the PCC, carried the theme “Effective Ombudsman Institution: Catalyst for Good Governance,” underscoring the urgency of reform in Nigeria’s administrative justice system.

Tinubu’s message was clear: the PCC must become a proactive, people-centered institution that leverages technology to enhance transparency, efficiency, and public trust. He praised the foresight of the commission’s founding in 1975, noting that its original mission, to protect citizens from administrative injustice, remains vital today.

However, in an era defined by digital innovation and rising expectations for ethical leadership, the Ombudsman must be more than a reactive body. It must anticipate and prevent bureaucratic abuse through data-driven systems and accessible digital platforms.

The President pledged legislative support to ensure the PCC’s transformation is not only aspirational but actionable. He called for the deployment of digital tools that would allow the commission to handle complaints swiftly and equitably, while also serving as a watchdog against systemic inefficiencies. This push aligns with broader efforts by the Tinubu administration to modernize public institutions and foster democratic accountability.

As Nigeria navigates the complexities of governance in the 21st century, the PCC’s evolution into a digital-first institution could serve as a model for other agencies.

Tinubu’s charge is not just a policy recommendation, it is a challenge to reimagine public service delivery in a way that empowers citizens and strengthens the social contract.