As part of the efforts to promote peaceful coexistence among citizens, Edo State Government has called on residents to take advantage of Citizens Mediation Center (CMC) in the ministry of justice to settle their disputes at no cost.
The government in a sensitization campaign to Agbado Market in Benin City on Monday, urged the residents not to take the laws into their own hands when there are disputes, instead, should visit the center to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
The sensitization team while addressing traders and onlookers listed family, landlords and tenants, communal, employment, and money lending disputes amongst other civil matters that the center attends to.
According to leader of the team, Barr Melody Omosah, the ministry of justice before the administration of governor Godwin Obaseki hitherto handled cases strictly for the state government.
Omosah, who spoke in pidgin English explained that the governor saw the need to cater for (civil) cases that concerns ordinary citizens in the state hence the newly introduced mediation center to accommodate them.
“Before governor Obaseki come, wetin ministry of justice dey do be say, any matter when concern government; any legal matter wen lawyers go attend, na the ministry dey do, dey represent the interests of government, dey defend the government;
“But, the governor come look am say e no just reach make the ministry dey work only for government; the ministry also need to work for the people of Edo State, and so he come put that (Citizens Mediation Center).
