A public corporation (also called a public enterprise or parastatal) is a government-owned organisation established by an Act of Parliament or decree to provide essential services to the public. Examples include power supply (e.g. PHCN), water supply, postal services, and transportation corporations. The primary purpose of establishing public corporations is to ensure that vital services are available to citizens, particularly where private enterprise may not provide them efficiently or equitably.
While public corporations may indirectly contribute to preventing exploitation (by offering services at controlled prices) or promoting equality (by extending services to underserved areas), these are not their primary defined functions. Their core mandate is the provision of essential services that are critical to national development and public welfare.
Entertaining public complaints is a function more closely associated with the Public Complaints Commission (Ombudsman), not public corporations. This is a common source of confusion in examinations - the Public Complaints Commission and public corporations are distinct bodies with different mandates.