Lagos Citizens Mediation Center resolves 130,002 cases in 10yrs

LAGOS State Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC) on Friday disclosed that it has handled 157,270 matters in the last 10 years, saying 83 per cent of the cases, translating to a total of 130,002 resolved.

The State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, disclosed this during a press briefing to announce the state government activities to mark the 2017 International Day of Peace, adding that over N4 billion was recovered for those who came forward for assistance in monetary matters.

Kazeem said some of the cases handled were issues relating to land, workplace dispute, monetary claim, compensation, family, among others.

According to the commissioner, the International Day of Peace will be marked in collaboration with United Nations Information Centre, with the theme, “Together for peace: Respect, safety and dignity,” saying activities meant to celebrate the day include a walk for peace cum legal clinic, a stakeholders’ conference and book launch on September 21.

Kazeem said such activities would be used as platforms to educate and sensitise the public on the need for peaceful co-existence and respect for human dignity to engender socio-economic growth, adding that Nigeria like every other countries in the world at this particular time needed peace in all its constituents to enable the concept of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) prosper and have a positive impact on humanity.

He said that it was because the state government understood that peace was critical to the development that made it set up the Citizens’ Mediation Centre.

The centre, according to him, serves 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 of the state.

The commissioner said the pillars of mediation include preservation of existing relationship and maintenance of such for future cohabitation amongst disputing parties, as well as confidentiality, neutrality and flexibility of process.

Speaking further, Kazeem said, “However, part of the policy thrust of this government is to ensure that a unit of the Centre is established in all local government areas and local council development areas in Lagos State in order to bring mediation services closer to the people, especially the indigent at no cost to them.

“The centre currently has 18 units spread across the state with the head office at Motorways Centre, Alausa. Other sub offices are located at Agege, Amukoko, Badagry, Bariga, Epe, Eredo, Iba, Ibeju-Lekki, Ikorodu, Ikotun, Ikosi-Ejinrin, Lagos Island, Alimosho, Ojokoro, Ojo, Oshodi and Yaba respectively.”