“We Have Received 73 Complaints”

You are the Public Independent Conciliator for the North West Region. Since taking office, what are the major highlights of your balance sheet?
After my appointment on June 10, 2021 and my swearing-in on July 8, 2021, my priority was to get an office space and official residence. We have also recruited staff for the office. Since 2021, we have maintained an open-door policy. We have taken steps to inform and educate our key stakeholders and the masses on the missions, organization and functioning of the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator. We carried out the following activities such as, information and education seminar across the board in the region. We have paid contact visits to 17 councils to exchange with council executives on the functioning of their councils and organised sensitisation sessions/seminars in 11 councils.

Do the people really understand what your office stands for? And what are their key complaints?
If the number of complaints we receive is anything to go by and based on our sensitization activities, it is safe to say that the people understand what the PIC stands for. We have received complaints from all the divisions of the North-West Region. In 2021, we received and treated 30 complaints – both oral and written. Of this number, 21 were within our mandate while 09 were out of our mandate. In 2022, we received 43 complaints. Of this number, 29 were within our mandate while 14 were out of our mandate. In 2022, we registered 4 complaints from Boyo, 3 from Bui, 2 from Donga Mantung, 3 from Menchum, 25 from Mezam, 4 from Momo and 2 from Ngoketunjia.
In all, since creation, we have received 73 complaints with 50 within our mandate and 23 out of our mandate. The fact that people bring complaints that are out of our mandate demonstrates their trust in us. Their trust in the institution is based on our action in the field. The PIC is poised to continue giving a listening ear to all complainants and providing orientation to those whose matters do not fall under its jurisdiction given that they expect the PIC to deliver even in areas that do not fall within its ambit.

What solutions have you been giving to the various complaints?
Each complaint is unique and the solution depends on the nature of the complaint and the parties concerned. We have received complaints on: unjust termination of employment contracts by councils, suspension of salaries, non-payment of salaries and salary arrears, non-payment of emoluments, non-payment of contractors, allegations of embezzlement by mayors and allegations of the non-realisation of council projects. There are also complaints from traders regarding the management of market sheds, violation of proprietary rights and trespass by some councils, irregular payment of temporal staff at some state health centres by mayors, threat of life, defamation of character, marital problems, witchcraft, inheritance disputes, Chieftaincy claims, lecturers reporting heads of institutions for disregarding them, among others. We have given appropriate treatment to t...