Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, and the senator representing Edo South Senatorial District, has reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to ensuring justice for the common man.
The federal lawmaker urged the public to utilize the committee as a platform for seeking justice and education, emphasizing its free and non-legalistic nature. He highlighted the committee’s role as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism with the authority to enforce compliance with its decisions.
Recalling a notable case, Senator Neda mentioned a final-year student who was rusticated from the University of Abuja due to alleged involvement in student unionism. “The committee intervened, and the student was reinstated. He had already written all his exams and completed his project when he was rusticated. The student petitioned the school, and we invited the university for deliberations. After two or three sessions, we reached a resolution, directing the university to reinstate him, which they complied with.”
Another significant case involved two children shot by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), one of whom was killed while the other was blinded. The committee demanded a medical report, which confirmed the cause of death and NDLEA’s responsibility. The agency admitted culpability, and the committee is currently negotiating compensation.
“We requested the medical report, which confirmed that the cause of death was a bullet fired by NDLEA, albeit negligently. NDLEA did not deny responsibility. The key issue now is securing fair compensation for the affected family. NDLEA initially offered 20 million naira, but we found this insufficient. We are collaborating with the House of Representatives to ensure the family receives adequate compensation,” Neda stated.
He further noted that the committee frequently handles petitions related to unlawful suspensions, terminations, and denied promotions, compelling respondents to address such grievances.
“There are many individuals who approach us with complaints of unlawful suspensions or terminations from their jobs, or cases of denied promotions. We thoroughly investigate these matters and take a firm position, compelling the concerned parties to address the issues,” he said.
The committee also deals with complaints against various institutions, including the police, customs, and the Civil Service Commission.
“We receive numerous petitions involving misconduct by law enforcement agencies, customs officials, and civil service authorities, among others. These are the types of cases we handle regularly,” Neda added.
He emphasized the need for greater public awareness about the committee’s work, stating that many Nigerians are unaware of the services it provides.
“It appears that this committee is not well known to the public. Many people are unaware of the services we offer to the ordinary citizen. Our committee operates without cost to petitioners—you don’t need a lawyer, though you can have one if you choose. Justice through our committee does not require financial expenditure. I want to use this opportunity to inform Nigerians that we are here to serve them, and we are doing so diligently,” he concluded.
