By Toyin Hakeem, Abuja
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has unveiled plans to strengthen citizens’ access to justice, improve petition management and accelerate institutional reforms as the 10th National Assembly enters its final year.
The committee disclosed this at a two-day strategic retreat organised in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), with support from the European Union, to assess its performance, address operational challenges and chart a roadmap for its remaining months in office.
Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Bitrus Kwamoti Laori, said the committee has received 890 petitions from Nigerians since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly, concluded 200 cases, while 70 committee reports have so far been adopted by the House of Representatives.
Laori said the increasing number of petitions reflects growing public confidence in the committee’s work, but expressed concern over the persistent refusal of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to honour invitations or comply with committee resolutions, a situation he said continues to delay justice and weaken legislative oversight.
He explained that the retreat would focus on improving petition processing, strengthening documentation, preserving institutional memory and deploying digital tools to enhance transparency, efficiency and continuity ahead of the transition to the 11th National Assembly.
Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo, described the committee as one of the National Assembly’s most important channels for citizen engagement, noting that it offers Nigerians direct access to legislative redress without the burden of filing fees or legal representation.
According to Nwankwo, the retreat provides members with an opportunity to review their achievements, identify outstanding responsibilities and consolidate reforms that will strengthen the committee’s legacy before the expiration of the current Assembly.
Also speaking, Chief Commissioner and National Ombudsman of the Public Complaints Commission, Hon. Bashir Abubakar, MFR, called for stronger collaboration between the commission and the House Committee through structured referral mechanisms, information sharing and coordinated action to improve access to administrative justice and deepen public confidence in democratic institutions.
Abubakar urged public institutions to embrace digital case management, effective record-keeping and impact-based reporting, stressing that accountability institutions must continuously innovate to meet the expectations of Nigerians and deliver more responsive governance.
Participants at the retreat are expected to adopt practical recommendations on legislative oversight, petition management, documentation, institutional memory and digital reforms aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the House Committee on Public Petitions before the conclusion of the 10th National Assembly.