The Zamfara House of Assembly has reiterated its commitment to promoting alternative dispute resolution aimed at providing the citizens with faster, more affordable, and accessible mechanisms for settling disputes outside the conventional court system.

The Speaker of the House, Sama’ila Moriki, gave the commitment on Thursday in Gusau at a public hearing on the Bill for the Establishment of the State Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre organised by the assembly.

The public hearing was organised in collaboration with an NGO, International Alert.

The event was attended by representatives from security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, officials from the ministry of justice, lawyers, partners, CSOs, the National Human Rights Commission and the media, among others.

The speaker, represented at the event by the chief whip, Rilwanu Nagambo, said the assembly was highly committed to continuing collaboration with stakeholders to enact laws for the benefit of the citizens.

Mr Moriki said, “The establishment of the centre will not only decongest the Courts but will also bring justice closer to the people.

“ADR mechanisms such as mediation, conciliation, and negotiation provide a faster, more inclusive, and culturally sensitive approach to resolving disputes, especially outside the court,” he added.

The speaker commended the support from the International Alert and for sponsoring various activities to ensure that the centre would be established in the state.

In a remark, the chairman, Zamfara Council of Chiefs, Attahiru Ahmed, described the move to establish the centre as a welcome development.

Mr Ahmed, who is also the Emir of Anka, praised the house for its efforts to provide the law on the establishment of the centre.

The traditional ruler also commended International Alert for its support in enhancing peacebuilding and dispute resolution in the state and Nigeria as a whole.

He stated that the centre would also encourage reconciliation and help sustain peaceful coexistence among the various communities in the state.

Sunday Momoh, the programme manager, international alert, said the public hearing provided a unique opportunity for all the stakeholders to share insights that would strengthen the bill before its third reading.

“We commend the house for ensuring public participation in this process, which is a vital ingredient of good governance and people-centred policymaking.

“When the bill is enacted into law, International Alert looks forward to collaborating with the Zamfara government and relevant institutions to support the effective establishment and operationalisation of the ADR Centre.

“Specifically, we will build the capacity of the staff of the centre to equip them with knowledge and practical skills in mediation, case management, and ethical standards.

“We will also support key ministries, departments, and agencies to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) that will guide effective case referrals and coordination,” he explained.

Mr Momoh added that the NGO would also support learning opportunities to ensure that the ADR framework in Zamfara aligned with extant national and international best practices in access to justice and peacebuilding.

“Our goal is to help make the ADR centre a model of effective, inclusive, and context-appropriate dispute resolution in Northern Nigeria,” he added.

(NAN)