NSCDC trains 175 officers on Alternative Dispute Resolution

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has trained 175 of its officers in Osun on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

NEWVERGE reports that the training was conducted on Thursday in Osogbo.

Mr Quadri Saladin, the NSCDC Zonal Commander in charge of Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, said that the training was to equip the officers on resolving civil matters without going to court.

According to Saladin, this is necessary so as not to overburden the courts and the legal system.

In his remarks, Dr Akintayo Adaralewa, NSCDC Commandant in Osun, said the ADR mechanism would help to decongest correctional centres.

Adaralewa, who was represented by his deputy, Dele Adesanya, said that the 175 officers would be trained on all aspects of the ADR mechanism.

“This training is also a clarion call for peace, a period of enlightenment and intellectualism.

“A time to get equipped on handling civil matters because we are now in a society where matters of no relevance easily aggravate into a full blown dispute’’, he added.

In his lecture, Mr Debo Oladinni, a legal practitioner, said dispute resolution was a crucial component for a peaceful society.

Oladinni explained that the ADR was a procedure for settling disputes by means other than litigation, and essentially based on mutual agreement, confidentiality, timeless and cost effectiveness.

Another legal practitioner, Mr Paul Adetoro, of Justice Development and Peace Makers Centre, Osogbo, said ADR was mainly for peace building in the society.

Adetoro enjoined security agencies to embrace the ADR mechanism while handling civil matters.

According to him, this will help the security agencies to channel their energy on serious matters because the approach promotes tolerance, peace, and mitigates crimes and violence in the society.

NEWVERGE reports that the training has as its theme ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution; Impact on Peace of Local Communities’.

The training was organised by the Peace and Conflict Resolution Unit of NSCDC, in collaboration with the state Ministry of Justice, and the Justice Development and Peace Makers Centre.

The participants include NSCDC Area Commanders, Divisional Officers and Peace Desk Officers in the state command.