Gambian Ombudsman seeks collaboration with Nigeria
NAN-H-75
Investigation
By Monday Ijeh
Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) Mr Samba Bajie, the Deputy Ombudsman of Gambia, on Tuesday called for collaboration with Nigeria’s Public Complaints Commission (PCC) on private sector investigation.
Bajie made the call in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Chief Commissioner of PCC, Chief Emmanuel Ogbile.
He said that the purpose of his visit to Nigeria was to identify areas of collaboration with the commission.
According to him, the mandate of the Gambian Ombudsman is to receive complaints and address administrative injustice in the public sector.
`We are mainly tasked to look into the public sector`; so, our mandate limits us to administering administrative justice with the public sector not the private sector.
“There have been calls from Gambians including parliamentarians, that our mandate should be extended to cover the private sector.
“The private sector is where we have most of the challenges and we need to come up with something to protect citizens working in the sector.”
He said the visit would avail him the opportunity to explore ways on how best the Gambian Ombudsman could collaborate with the PCC in dealing with issues concerning the private sector.
In his remarks, Ogbile thanked the deputy ombudsman for the visit.
He said that the PCC had recorded landmark achievements since its establishment 40 years ago.
He said the commission had concluded plans to engage some organisations, ministries, departments and agencies for collaboration and support.
The PCC boss said the idea was to ensure speedy resolution of complaints as well as to enhance the capacity of members of staff of the commission.
He called for the establishment of a regional chapter of the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association in West Africa as it was in the East, North and Southern Africa. (NAN)
IMC/GOM/NKO
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakola/Nkechi Okoronkwo