Abia sets up panels to mediate on tenants, landlords matters, community disagreements

Abia State government has set up mediation panels to provide peaceful resolution of disputes in various communities in the State.

The panel members, who have already been inaugurated at the Abia State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Umuahia, are to handle family and domestic disputes, tenancy and landlords matters and  community disagreements.

Other cases to be handled confidentially by the mediation panels are land and boundary issues, minor commercial issues and minor interpersonal conflicts.

A statement from the Abia Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs made available to journalists on Friday, said mediation panel centres located at the seventeen local government headquarters would run the conflict resolutions for Abia citizens at no cost.

“These centres provide a peaceful, confidential and cost-free platform for peaceful and timely resolution of  disputes across our communities”, the Ministry said.

Reacting to the development, some tenants in Umuahia, the State capital, have indicated their willingness to use the panel in seeking redress over alleged high wickedness of their landlords.

DAILY POST gathered that the mediation panel is made of up lawyers, community leaders and some senior officials of the Abia State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.