OVER N829 MILLION RECOVERED FROM DISPUTE SETTLEMENT – LASG

 

Lagos State Government has disclosed that over N829 million has been recovered from different parties through dispute settlements in the last eight months.

The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem revealed this on Wednesday at a press conference organised by the government to commemorate the 2018 United Nations International Day of Peace at Alausa, Secretariat, Ikeja.

The Commissioner, who was represented at the event by the Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Funlola Odunlami, noted that most residents who had approached the State Government for mediation matters through the Citizens’ Mediation Centre, CMC, have had their disputes resolved amicably.

According to him, “In brokering peace as it relates to civil disputes among residents of Lagos between January and August, 2018, the CMC has successfully registered a total number of 33,670 matters. Out of this number, a total of 18, 982 cases were mediated and resolved while 4,701 were adjourned and referred to other government agencies for further processing”.

He added that majority of the issues that dominated the entire mediation process presided over by officers from the Centre within the period under review centred on landlord and tenancy matters.

Kazeem stated that there are numerous ways that the State government had instituted to promote peaceful co-existence of residents, especially with the establishment of several agencies to maintain law and order.

“The Lagos State Government in line with its constituted functions of ensuring peace within the State had established the Citizens’ Mediation Centre. Other ways government provides access to justice to the indigent residents of the State include the Office of the Administrator-General and Public Trustees, Public Advise Centre, PAC, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, Community Service Unit, LandGrabbers Committee, among others”, Attorney-General emphasised.

He said that the theme for this year’s celebration “Right to Peace: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70”, highlights the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace and respect for Human Rights.

He eulogized the respect for Human rights as portrayed by the lives and times of deceased great heroes such as Herbert Macaulay, Enarhoro, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Tai Solarin, Gani Fawehinmi, saying that “The lives of these heroes attest to the importance attached to the fight and enthronement of Human Rights in Nigeria. Some living legends are still upholding the mantra to ensure continuity and preservation of the course”.

The Attorney-General informed the forum that the commemoration of UN International Day of Peace and Stakeholders’ Conference will hold on Friday, 21st September 2018 at Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos

He pointed out that every year, the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on the 21^st of September, adding that the General Assembly of the United Nations had declared the day in 1981 as one devoted to strengthening ideals of peace, both within and among all Nations and peoples.