OMBUDSMAN is usually used to represent

1. Analyze the question The question asks which Nigerian institution the term "Ombudsman" is commonly used to represent.

2. Explain the concept "Ombudsman" is a Swedish word meaning "grievance representative." An ombudsman is an independent official who investigates complaints from citizens against government agencies, public officers, or institutions, and who tries to settle those complaints fairly. Sweden created the first one in 1809, and many countries later adopted the idea.

In Nigeria, the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) was established in 1975 by Decree No. 31 and is now backed by the Public Complaints Commission Act. Its job is to investigate complaints of injustice, maladministration, and abuse of power by public officials or agencies. This is why it is regarded as Nigeria's Ombudsman.

3. Go through the options

• A. Code of Conduct Bureau: This body monitors the conduct of public officers, receives asset declarations, and enforces ethical standards. It is not a complaints-handling institution for citizens.
• B. Agency for Human Rights: This is not the standard name of the ombudsman institution. The National Human Rights Commission deals with human rights issues specifically.
• C. Public Complaints Commission: This receives and investigates citizens' complaints against government and public bodies, so it matches the definition of an ombudsman.
• D. SERVICOM: This is the Service Compact with All Nigerians, which aims to improve public service delivery. It is a service-quality initiative, not an ombudsman.

4. Answer The correct answer is C. Public Complaints Commission.

5. Exam tip Link the words: Ombudsman = Complaints. Whenever you see "ombudsman" in a JAMB Government question, think of the Public Complaints Commission. Also remember the other bodies by their key roles:

• Code of Conduct Bureau: asset declaration
• SERVICOM: service delivery
• NHRC: human rights