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Senate Committee advocates alternative dispute resolution
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions in the 10th National Assembly has advocated for alternative dispute resolution rather than through the legal process that may drag for long and weary the disputants.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen, stated this during an interactive session with selected journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, while he highlighted some of the Committee’s notable achievements.
He cited two high-profile cases handled by the Committee, including that of a final-year student of the University of Abuja who was expelled for belonging to a union, which he said, the Committee’s intervention got the student reinstated, graduated, and is now serving.
“Another case involved a Delta State couple whose two sons were struck by stray bullets during an operation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). One of the sons died, while the other is battling to recover his eyesight.
“The Committee is still handling the matter, as NDLEA has so far offered only a partial compensation of ₦20 million. Senator Imasuen assured that justice would not only be seen to be done but would indeed be served.
Regarding compliance with the Committee’s resolutions, the Senator revealed that 95% of respondents have adhered to the rulings. He further clarified that filing a petition with the Committee is completely free of charge.
“All a petitioner needs to do is submit a written petition through their Senator, and it will be read on the floor of the Senate before being referred to the Committee for proper investigation and resolution,” he explained.
Encouraging Nigerians to take advantage of this opportunity rather than endure the lengthy and costly legal process, Senator Imasuen reiterated that the Committee’s work does not end on the Senate floor. He assured that all legitimate means would be employed to ensure compliance with resolutions.
