The Senate has recommended a significant upward review of the 2026 budget for the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), pushing the allocation from the proposed ₦29.46 billion to ₦109 billion.
The recommendation was presented by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions during a report submission to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West).
Presenting the harmonized report, Committee Chairman Senator Neda Imasuen (APC, Edo South) argued that the initial ₦29.46 billion proposal was insufficient to sustain the agency. He revealed that nearly 96% of that figure (₦28.39bn) would be consumed by personnel costs alone, leaving the commission with zero funds for capital projects and negligible resources for operations.
The proposed ₦109 billion total is designed to cover:
Personnel Costs (₦28.39bn): Implementation of the new national minimum wage, 15 months of CONLESS arrears (matching National Assembly standards), and five years of promotion arrears.
Overhead Costs (₦30.26bn): Managing surging electricity tariffs, fueling vehicles, and general maintenance of commission facilities.
Capital Expenditure (₦50.36bn): Extension of the National Headquarters, construction of new office buildings in 21 states, and the purchase of operational vehicles.
Senator Imasuen emphasized that the PCC is a vital arm of the National Assembly that serves as the “last hope” for aggrieved Nigerians, workers, and contractors seeking justice against institutional overreach.
“The Committee sits nearly every day to ensure that it dispenses justice to the people timely,” Imasuen stated. “To carry out this enormous assignment of serving out justice to Nigerians, the Commission must be equipped to function effectively.”
In addition to the PCC’s budget, the Senate Committee on Ethics also requested an increase in its own monthly operational allocation from ₦9 million to ₦29 million, effective January 2026.
The Chairman noted that the current allocation has been rendered obsolete by economic realities, especially as the committee provides transport assistance to poor petitioners and handles an intensive daily schedule of public hearings and petition reviews.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations has taken the recommendations under advisement. The proposed increase is expected to transform the PCC into a more robust ombudsman capable of reaching all 36 states and ensuring that the rights of the common citizen are protected across all government and private institutions.
