LAGOS OPENS MORE MEDIATION OFFICES ACROSS THE STATE
The Lagos State government has inaugurated more Citizens Mediation Offices in Ojokoro, Epe, Eredo and Ikosi-Ejinrin as parts of efforts to provide avenues to residents for resolving their disputes amicably as well as in an attempt to decongest the courtrooms in the State.
The Director of the Citizens Mediation Centre, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Odusanya, who disclosed this recently, said the creation of four new sub-offices in addition to the existing 14 offices has helped to bring dispute resolution closer to the people in suburban areas.
She stated that through the dedication and commitment of its workforce the Centre has, in the last six months successfully resolved 12,747 matters brought before it and collected over N652 million in form of settlement on behalf of citizens.
The Director explained that with the inauguration of these additional offices, activities of the Mediation Centre and justice delivery system has been made faster and convenient for Lagosians who are exhibiting more confidence in the judicial sector in State.
According to Odusanya, “Plans are still underway to have mediation units in all 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of the State. With this in place, the whole of the State will have been covered and alternative dispute resolution is brought closer to the indigents”.
The Citizens’ Mediation Centre was established in 1999 as a unit under the Directorate of Citizens’ Right of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice before it later became an entity by law in 2007 to provide free legal services to the needy and residents of the State.
Services rendered by the Centre include matters relating to Landlord/Tenant issues, Employers/Employees disputes, Family Matters (including marital disputes, Child Custody etc).Others are Property Inheritance and Land Matters, Monetary Claims, Local and Commercial disputes.
The Centre has offices located at Ikeja, Agege, Alimosho, Amukoko, Badagry, Bariga, Epe, Eredo, Iba, Ikotun and Ibeju Lekki as well as Ikorodu, Ikosi-Ejinrin, Lagos Island Ojo, Ojokoro, Oshodi and Yaba.
