By Gami Tadanyigbe

The Public Complaints Commission (PCC) has said that Stakeholders play a critical role in governance to ensure the political and economic development of the country.

The Commission disclosed this in Abuja, during a workshop to discuss on Social Corporate Responsibility, discrimination against local engineers, disparities in the placement of HND and BSc holders in civil service and Private sector compliance to pension Act, 2004.

According to the commission, in the case of governance and institutional reform, stakeholders play a crucial role in ensuring that policies and practices are fair and equitable for all parties involved.

The commission said Government agencies play a key role in setting policies and regulations that promote fair competition and protect the interests of local engineers and craftsmen.

“The public is perhaps the most important stakeholder in governance and institutional reform, The public can advocate for changes in policies and practices, and they can hold government agencies and private organizations accountable for their actions.

“Civil society groups, such as human rights organizations and advocacy groups, can also play a crucial role in promoting equitable policies and practices. These groups can raise awareness about discrimination and push for reforms that benefit local engineers and craftsmen.

Foreign construction companies often discriminate against local engineers and craftsmen in various ways, such as paying them lower wages, denying them opportunities for career advancement, and failing to hire them for certain jobs.

On pension matters, it said PCC plays an important role in pension administration in Nigeria by ensuring that private employers comply with the law and resolving disputes between employers and employees.

It said the government agencies involved in compliance with the Pension Act of 2004 include the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the Public Complaints Commission (PCC).

“The PCC also plays a role in educating members of the public on their rights and responsibilities regarding pension administration in Nigeria. The agency provides information on the Pension Reform Act of 2014 and other relevant laws and regulations, which helps to create awareness and promote compliance.

“However, despite the existence of this law, some private employers in Nigeria fail to comply with its provisions, resulting in a situation where employees are not receiving their pension contributions or the contributions are not being remitted to the PFAs in a timely manner.

“Private organizations can promote fair hiring practices by ensuring that local engineers and craftsmen are given equal opportunities to apply for jobs and that they are not discriminated against based on their nationality or ethnicity.

Also noted that the agency contributes immensely to the education of the public on their rights and responsibilities regarding pension administration in Nigeria.

However, the commission said the Disparities in the placement of Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) holders in the civil service have been a contentious issue in Nigeria for several years. (NAN)