The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, Public Complaints Commission, PCC, Chapter, has honoured the Chief Commissioner of the Commission, Hon. Bashir Abubakar, MFR, with a ‘Landmark Achievement Award’ for his role in the full implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure, CONLESS, for staff.
The award was presented on Monday at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja amid jubilation by staff and union leaders, who recalled years of agitation over the salary structure.
Speaking at the event, PASAN PCC Chapter Chairman, Dr. Margaret Ibeku, said the award was well deserved, noting that previous administrations had only implemented the structure partially.
“Chief, we want to thank you, on behalf of the staff of the Public Complaints Commission, for doing what you said you would do,” she said.
In his goodwill message, PASAN National President, Comrade Usman Mohammed, described the full implementation of CONLESS as a “soft landing” after years of strained relations between the union and PCC management. He commended Abubakar for his sincerity and acknowledged that the union may have, during past disagreements, gone beyond acceptable limits in its choice of words.
Receiving the award, Abubakar said he was humbled by the recognition and stressed that his administration remained committed to improving staff welfare and working conditions.
“We are not looking for ₦200 billion, ₦300 billion. We are not looking for anything extra. We are only looking for what we are entitled to,” he said.
The Chief Commissioner disclosed that the ongoing staff verification exercise had uncovered irregularities. He added that a review committee of Federal Commissioners with representatives from the six geopolitical zones was scrutinising the findings, and that affected cases would remain unpaid until discrepancies were addressed.
He also announced plans to create additional departments and directorate positions at the Commission’s headquarters and state offices to expand opportunities for staff progression.
Abubakar further said the PCC had attracted interest from foreign Ombudsman institutions in Liberia, Cameroon and Russia for possible partnerships and staff training.
He urged staff to protect the integrity of the Ombudsman institution through their conduct both in and outside the workplace.
“We have just one year left to finish our tenure. By the special grace of God, we want to achieve, even if it is 50 per cent, of what I have planned for this place,” he said.
Also honoured at the event were Comrade Usman Mohammed with the ‘Best Performing President’ award, National Zonal Vice-President, Comrade Ikechukwu Alaribe with the ‘Outstanding Zonal Vice President Award’, and Dr. Margaret Ibeku with the ‘Distinguished Leadership Award’ for their contributions to the rights and welfare of PCC staff and organised labour.
