ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION TOP AGENDA AS FCTA TRAINS LAWYERS

By: Ben Ukeji & Ogbonnaya Maxwell

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has begun training of its legal officers to acquaint them with modern skills required in resolving matters in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

The first leg of the training, which was also aimed at keeping the legal officers abreast with modern trends in legal practice, was held at the Auditorium of the FCT Internal Revenue Service, Gudu District, Abuja.

A statement singed by the Head, Public Relations, Legal Services Secretariat,
Emeka Iwuagwu, said
Participants were trained in modern ADR as a new concept in legal jurisprudence as way of assisting in decongesting the various courts across the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at the Three-Day training, the General Counsel / Secretary of the FCT Legal Secretariat, Mohammed Babangida Umar, said the training is critical for an efficient and effective workforce.

The General Counsel, who was represented at the occasion by the Director, Advisory Services, FCT Legal Services Secretariat, Aminu Basha, said the Administration is interested in improving the capacity of its legal officers to ensure that, they are knowledgeable in modern-day legal practices to enable them to discharge their duties effectively.

Umar said the participants drawn from Legal and Administrative Officers of the Secretariat were trained properly on the concept of Alternative Dispute Resolution to enable them to adjudicate on issues involving government, private entities as well as individuals, without necessarily going to court.

According to him, this will assist the government in reducing the number of cases in courts.

The General Counsel, therefore, advised members of the public to embrace the Alternative Dispute Resolution as a way of resolving minor conflicts.

The training of the FCT Legal Officers was organized by the FCT Legal Secretariat in partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association.