The Honourable Commissioner, Public Complaint Commission, Honourable Ezekiel Dalhatu in a press briefing with news men on Thursday, the 19th of May 2022 raised some concerns coming from various interest indigenous groups in the FCT on some salient issues which include

• Exclusion of the FCT Natives from national governance.
• Non Appointment of an FCT Indigene into the Federal Executive Council (FEC) despite gaining a Court of Appeal Judgement to that effect.

The Honourable Commissioner also stated that, base on the evidence of a Court of Appeal Judgment attached in the complains of the various groups, Mr President should use his good office and leverage on the court of appeal judgement and the recommendation of the National Assembly to appoint one of the indigenes of the FCT as Minister into the Federal Executive Council owing to the recent vacuum that has been created the resignation of some ministers so it could douse the tension and threat of the complainants.

The Honourable Commissioner while concluding appreciated the management of JAMB for addressing and attending to some of their complaints brought to them the public complain commission.

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You may also read the press statement below:

BEING A PRESS ADDRESS ON PUBLIC COMPLAINTS FROM FCT INDIGENOUS CIVIL SOCIETIES GROUPS ON MINISTERIAL SLOT PRESENTED BY THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONER, PUBLIC COMPLAINTS COMMISSION FCT.
Good afternoon!
Gentlemen of the press…
We have called you here based on complaints written to our office some FCT indigenous civil society organizations namely; Coalition of FCT Indigenous Association, Abuja Grassroots Project and FCT Indigenous Women Association on a planned blockage of major routes in form of physical protest within the FCT in other to call the government attention to their plight as FCT Natives.
Upon receipt of their letters of complaints, we have investigated their concerns as raised in their complaints are genuine that is why we are here to appeal to the complainants and also call the attention of the relevant authorities to this threat.
Gentlemen of the Press,
In the complaints written and addressed to our office, the following concerns were raised the groups: –

1. Exclusion of the FCT Natives from national governance. In other words, these groups on behalf of the FCT Natives are calling on the extant administration to include them in the governance of the FCT because they constitute the larger stakeholder in accordance with the description of FCT bythe constitution in section 299.
2. Non Appointment of an FCT Indigene into the Federal Executive Council (FEC) despite gaining a Court of Appeal Judgement to that effect since 15th January, 2015 (there is a judgement given a competent court of jurisdiction and the appellate court of our country after a rigorous process mandating the President of our country to as a matter of law appoint any FCT indigene as Minister into the Federal Executive Council which has not been implemented).
3. The group also stated that; the people of the FCT are Nigerians, they have all participated in all forms of electoral and civic duties. The Nigerian Constitution in section 299 recognizes these facts about FCT Natives and all that they want is to be accorded near democratic and encompassing privileges like every other state in this country and not otherwise.

Gentlemen,
As you are aware of our statutory mandate as Public Complaint Commission, after a detailed investigation, we urge the indigenous groups (petitioners) to allow our office to follow up on the possible resolution for fruitful outcomes.
Our Recommendation therefore is; Based on the evidence of a Court of Appeal judgment attached therewith in their complaints to that effect, we want to make a passionate appeal to Mr President to use his good office and leverage on the legal background (court of appeal judgement) and the recommendation of the National Assembly to appoint one of the indigenes of the FCT as Minister into the Federal Executive Council owing to the recent vacuum that has been created the resignation of some ministers in order to douse the tension and threat of the complainants.
Nothing can be too much as sacrifice for peace. We are concerned about what the protest/demonstration could cause to individuals, businesses and even transportation in the FCT if such mass action is allowed to hold.
We are also appealing to all concerned stakeholders to as a matter of urgency look into these concerns and forestall any impending protest in the FCT.

Thank you!