Peace mediation: Lagos recovers N829m in 8 months
The Lagos state government says in brokering peace as it relates to civil disputes among residents of the state, a total of N829.110 million was recovered for parties through mediation between January and August this year.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, disclosed this on Wednesday, at a news conference to commemorate this year’s United Nations International Day of Peace, observed on September 21 annually.
The theme for this year’s event is, “Right to Peace: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70”.
Kazeem, represented by the Solicitor-General, Mrs. Funlola Odunlami, said issues which dominated the mediation were that of landlords and tenants.
He said the Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC), registered 33, 670 matters in the period under review, adding that out of this, 18, 982 matters were mediated and resolved, while 4,701 matters were adjourned and referred to other government agencies for further processing.
He said the CMC was an initiative of the state government to serve as a non adversarial dispute resolution centre through the use of mediation mechanism in dispensing justice fairly, speedily and without discrimination, fear or favour between disputing residents.
According to him, the Centre has 18 units spread across the state and it is the thrust of the government to ensure that a unit is established in all councils. He said this was to bring mediation services closer to the people, especially the indigent at no cost to them.
Kazeem said the existence of peace in any society was germane to democracy and a panacea to socio-economic development and growth.
He said the forthcoming International Day of Peace coincided with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the UN, and that it aims to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace and respect for human rights.
Kazeem noted that the sustenance of human rights would eradicate acrimony and entrench self love and mutual respect among citizens, which in the end contributes to global peace.
He said that the government had put in place mechanisms that would foster development and promote economic activities by instituting agencies that will provide free service modelled at protecting fundamental rights of residents.
According to him, mediation is a process that has become globally accepted and conforms to the constitutional responsibility of government to promote peace within the state.
He, however, encouraged residents to avail themselves of the free legal services offered by the CMC in amicably resolving all disputes as they may arise.
