The Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) in Kano State has distributed cheques worth N40 million to beneficiaries of funds recovered through its dispute resolution and reconciliation processes.
The Executive Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Sa’idu Yahaya, disclosed this on Thursday while presenting the cheques to beneficiaries at the commission’s headquarters in Kano.
Yahaya said the recoveries were achieved through reconciliation and mediation in purely civil matters arising mainly from business transactions and contractual misunderstandings.
He said the commission was mandated by Sections 9 and 15 of the PCACC Law, 2008 (as amended), to receive complaints from members of the public and resolve disputes between individuals and organisations.
“As part of our daily routine activities, we reconcile disputes between individuals.
“We have been doing this almost on a daily basis, but we felt it was time to start showcasing some of our milestones to the general public,” he said.
According to him, the presentation of the cheques was aimed at encouraging members of the public with similar disputes to approach the commission for redress without stress.
The chairman listed some of the recoveries to include N2 million in favour of Karry Consult and Family Nigeria Ltd, and N1 million for Nuruddin Usman.
Others were N17 million for Abdulhakim and Brothers Enterprise, N15 million for Adamu Kamal, N1 million for Zakiya Abdulrazak, and Isma’il Muhammad Indabawa, among others.
Yahaya said the cases were civil in nature and did not involve criminal elements.
According to him, most of the disputes stemmed from commercial transactions, given Kano’s status as a major commercial centre.
He added that the commission usually pays recovered funds directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts to ensure transparency and avoid unnecessary contact between staff and recipients.
“This is the first time since I assumed office in August that we are issuing cheques.
“We decided to do this only to showcase some of our achievements and performance to the public for awareness,” he said.
Yahaya added that the commission remained open to complaints from both the public and private sectors and would continue to handle such matters professionally and in accordance with the law.
Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Mallam Isma’il Indabawa commended the agency for the gesture.