Abuja:Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has called on the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) to prioritize the enforcement of court judgments. Speaking at the inaugural Nigerian Ombudsman Annual Conference in Abuja, Soyinka emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between justice delivery and implementation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Soyinka expressed concern over the delays in implementing court judgments, highlighting how victims often do not benefit from decisions secured after lengthy legal battles. He questioned why court decisions are ignored by government agencies despite being publicly delivered by competent courts. Soyinka also cited cases where citizens waited years for compliance with court orders, including the return of confiscated passports.
Emir of Lafia, Sidi Bage Muhammad I, attributed the enforcement issues to indiscipline and poor leadership. He noted that while enforcement rules exist, public officials often fail to comply with court orders without repeated reminders. Bage stressed the need for leaders to set an example by respecting judicial decisions.
PCC Chief Commissioner Bashir Abubakar described the conference as historic and noted the Commission’s role in resolving over 700,000 complaints in the past two years. He emphasized the PCC’s commitment to reform and its role as “the conscience of democracy.”
Former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku congratulated Abubakar and highlighted the need for public awareness of the PCC’s services as an alternative to litigation. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, and Sen. Neda Imasuen also spoke, advocating for institutional reform and compliance to strengthen good governance.