I was excited to welcome Professor Offornze Amucheazi, SAN, to the Expert Views on ADR (EVA) Show. He is the Commissioner of Lands in Anambra State and the founding partner of Amucheazi Ozioko & Co. Legal Practitioners and Arbitrators.   

Professor Offornze is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) with thirty (30) years of experience in Arbitration, Labour Law / Industrial Relations and Constitutional Review. These experiences include Legal advisory for the World Bank Group, The Nigerian National Assembly & Senate, and Lecturing at The Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the University of Nigeria- where he taught me legal methods.  

 He is a published author covering several Commercial,  and Business Law articles  focused on Arbitration, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and Labour and Industrial Relations.  

Prof wears many hats, so I have left the link to his profile below: 

 https://ng.linkedin.com/in/prof-offornze-amucheazi-san-4572692a 

We analysed the following questions:  

1. How far has ADR enhanced access to Justice in Enugu, Abuja and Anambra state? 

2. Is there any measurable difference or impact on the Cost and Time Frame for settling disputes under ADR Compared to litigation? 

3. Are employees or workers aware of ADR options regarding disputes or conflicts that might arise at the workplace? 

4. To what extent are employees encouraged to use ADR to settle discrimination, bullying and harassment in the workplace- Nigeria is the context? 

 5. In your experience, who contacts mediation services: employee, employer, trade union representative? 

6. What are the motivations of employers? Are trade unions generally supportive of mediation processes? 

 7. Why does the Trade Disputes Act prohibit disputing parties from bringing their grievances directly before any arbitral body without consulting with the Minister of Trade and Industry?   

8. Why does the Minister of Labour and Productivity have much power to investigate and solve any trade disputes that might occur?   

9. Do you think parties are under pressure to settle due to the Minister's undue interference or influence in labour dispute resolution? 

10. What do you think are the main motivations of the federal and state governments main motivations encouraging this form of dispute resolution in industrial relations?  

11. Are trade unions generally supportive of working relationships with lawyers and law firms in settling collective disputes over pay and working conditions?  

12. Why is ADR more prevalent or popular in the more complex societies (in this context, UK-developed countries) than in the less complex societies (developing countries-Nigeria)?   

13. What is the way forward for mass advocacy or awareness of the benefits of utilising ADR in settling disputes or conflicts in the workplace?