ICMC tasks members on peace

The Lagos branch of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Councillors of Nigeria (ICMC) has charged the new inducted associate members to use their new positions to promote peace in Nigeria.

The President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Institute, Dr Louis Brown Ogbeifun, gave the charge recently at the induction ceremony held in Lagos.

Ogeifum, who was represented by the 2nd Vice President, Mrs Nwagbo Margaret said: “We are aware that the development and effective usage of mediation as an Alternative Dispute Resolution tool has been slowed down because several practitioners still believe that mediation is a process that would seriously undermine their livelihoods, plough backs and therefore, an “Alarming Drop in Revenue (ADR).

“As mediators, we see it differently because the man or woman on the street that is confronted with very serious conflict or a worker that has been dismissed and stripped of his or her salary would only be interested in the quickest access to justice at the lowest cost, which mediation fortunately offers.

“Some practitioners have also argued that mediation has come to supplant litigation and therefore, would pose a serious threat to effective justice delivery.”

Ogbeifun further stated that regardless of the profuse use of mediation, there are cases that must be resolved using litigation.

“As mediators, we understand their fears. We should empathize with all the proponents. Their fears stems from the fear of the unknown, which is usually the force behind the argument for the status quo, “ just as the President insisted that practitioners should be hard working so as to win the different proponents over because according to Ogbeifun, the taste of the pudding is in the eating.”

Ogbeifun therefore admonished the newly inducted mediators not to put themselves on the overdrive just because they want disputants to settle their differences.