By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

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The Zone J of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), has trained no fewer than 175 officers of the Osun State Command, in the application of Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR), to resolve issues brought before them.

The Zonal Commander, Assistant Commandant General Quadri Saladin, 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.

He told the officers not to overburden themselves with civil matters that can better be resolved through the engagement of Alternative Dispute Resolution, saying so many minor cases taken to court ought to have been resolved amicably.

Speaking at the seminar with theme, ”Alternative Dispute Resolution; Impact on Peace of the local Community”, the state Commandant, Michael Adaralewa, represented by the Deputy Commandant of Corps, Dele Adesanya, said the seminar was anchored on agenda of the Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni OFR, who is passionate on massive training and retraining of officers at all levels for best global practice.

According to Commandant Adaralewa, “There’s 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.

”Apparently, today’s seminar 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.”

Delivering the lecture, a senior legal adviser to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Osun State,  Barrister Debo Oladinni Esq., 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 that Alternative Dispute Resolution is any procedure for settling dispute by means other than litigation, an approach, which is based on mutual agreement, confidential, timely and cost effective.

The second resource person at the seminar, Mr. 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 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.