Promoting alternative dispute resolution in Oyo state

Mediation, a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), is a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties with concrete effects.  Typically, a third party, the mediator assists the parties to negotiate a settlement.  Disputants may mediate disputes in a variety of domains, such as commercial, legal, diplomatic, workplace, community and family matters.

The Oyo State Government should be commended for establishing Mediation Centre since 2004 in order to provide alternative dispute resolution mechanism through a non-adversarial forum for settlement of disputes between parties who voluntarily submit their disputes to the mediation.

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Mediation centre entertains virtually all disputes and it is usually flooded by complaints with disputes pertaining to landlord and tenant matters, employer and employee matters, family/inheritance matters, matrimonial matters, debtor/creditor matters, contractual/commercial transactions.

The establishment of this centre was borne out of the need to discourage dispute that can be resolved in a short time form being taken to court, where it takes time, suffers multiple adjournments and cost so much money.

It is important to note that the apparent advantages of Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism viz a viz the conventional means of litigation in the administration of justice cannot be overlooked.  It is cheap, affordable, quick and provides confidentiality, justice without rancour and bitterness, which makes it more acceptable to people.

Mediation is becoming a more peaceful and internationally accepted solution in order to end the conflict and use to resolve disputes of any magnitude.   Mediators used various techniques to open, improve, and dialogue and empathy between disputants, aiming at helping the parties to reach an agreement that depends on the mediator’s skill and training.

Information gathered was that Oyo state mediation centre has received many complaints coverings all areas of life and able to resolve more than half of them.  the case includes religious dispute, custody and maintenance of children, land dispute, breach of contract, debt recovery, partnership, estate etc,  the legal officers of the ministry, who have been specially trained on the mediation and renders the services free to members of the public.

I will like to inform the general public about the speedy resolution nature of the Centre and urge all and sundry to see this center as a great opportunity for the disputant to find solutions to their own conflicts. Also to ensure acceptance of the outcome by both parties, in order to enhance sustainable peace.

The centre serves as an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (ADR) by assisting the citizens of the State to find a quick amicable resolution of their disputes; bring access to justice nearer to the downtrodden and indigents within the state who cannot afford the high cost of litigation.  The services provided at the centre are free; also promoting harmony and peaceful co-existence amongst citizens of the State; decongest the courts by providing enabling an environment for citizens to amicably settle their disputes.

Aminat Busari-Adeleke,

Ibadan