Osun NSCDC trains 175 personnel on Alternative Dispute Resolution to decongest correctional centres

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

The Zonal Commander in charge of Zone J of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Engineer Quadri Saladin has called on Peace and Conflict Resolutions Unit of the Osun State command of the Corps not to overburden courts of jurisdiction with civil matters that can better be resolved through the engagement of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

Saladin, an Assistant Commandant General of the Corps made the call during a one-day seminar organised by Peace and Conflict Resolution Unit of NSCDC, Osun State Command, in collaboration with Osun state Ministry of Justice and Justice Development and Peace Makers Centre (JDPMC) for Area Commanders, Divisional Officers and Peace Desk Officers across the state command.

In a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, ASC Kehinde Adeleke, and made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Thursday said 175 officers of the Corps participated in the seminar.

Speaking at the seminar, Michael Adaralewa, the state Commandant, said the seminar was anchored on agenda of the Commandant General Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, who is passionate on massive training and retraining of officers at all levels for best global practice.

Represented by Dele Adesanya, the Deputy Commandant of Corps, Adaralewa, said there is no better time than now to equip officers and men on the nitty gritty of Alternative Dispute Resolutions, as there is an urgent need to curb congestion in correctional centres across the country .

He said, ‘’this seminar,  with the theme ‘’Alternative Dispute Resolution; Impact on Peace of the local Community’’, is also a clarion call for peace, a period of enlightenment and intellectualism, a time to get equipped on handling civil matters because we now find ourselves in a society where matters of no relevance easily aggravate into a full blown dispute.”

While delivering the lecture, Barrister Debo Oladinni Esq, a senior legal adviser to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Osun State,  said dispute resolution is a crucial component in every facet of human life and one constant variable in society like change is dispute.

He explained further, that Alternative Dispute Resolution is any procedure for settling dispute by means other than litigation, according to him this approach is based on mutual agreement, confidential, timely and cost effective.

The second resource person at the seminar, Barrister Paul Kehinde Adetoro Esq. of Justice Development and Peace Makers Centre, Osogbo, said ADR which he referred to as Appropriate Dispute Resolution,is an approach outside court process which is mainly for peace building in our society.

He therefore enjoined Security agencies to embrace ADR while handling civil matters as this would help them channel their energy on serious matters, noting that the approach promotes tolerance, peace and mitigates crimes and violence in the society.

The head of Crisis management department, Deputy Commandant of Corps (DCC) Musa Ajiboye and unit head of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Akinwolere, also corroborated the views of the speakers at the seminar, the duo encouraged participants to put lessons learnt  into use for better service delivery to the nation.