Abuja chamber inaugurates 10-man dispute resolution committee

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited (ABUCCI), Wednesday, in Abuja inaugurated a 10-man committee to resolve disputes among its members amicably.

The President of the Chamber, Mr Tony Ejinkonye who inaugurated the committee, listed Mr Emeka Obegolu as the Chairman, including Mr Agada Elachi and Mr Ezenwa Anumnu as members. Others are Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, Mrs Amaka Okolo, Mr Taiwo Oluseyi, Mrs Rose Nwosu, Mr Abimbola Kayode, retired Gen. India Garba and Mr Jude Igwe.

The committee, which has no secretary, was charged with responsibilities of developing a framework, rules and procedure for the association’s dispute resolution centre. The committee is also charged with responsibility to set up and administer the dispute resolution.

Ejinkonye who explained that ABUCCI, being in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), needed the mechanism to interface with government, ministries, parastatals and agencies, said due to the interface, FCT shouldered many responsibilities, adding that there was need to establish conflict resolution system to improve policies and regulations affecting businesses in FCT.

“Over the years, the chamber witnessed a gap in commercial dispute resolutions, particularly for small and medium enterprises which were settled by security agencies.

“These commercial disputes have destroyed many business relationships which were built over the years.

“And in order to create a window to ventilate commercial grievances in the FCT, ABUCCI had to establish disputes resolution centre.’’

He said that dispute was inevitable in any business relationship, adding that this was why his administration had to establish a world class centre in FCT.

He disclosed that ABUCCI was the first chamber of commerce in the federation to establish conflicts resolution structure, further explaining that the centre would be the same as practised in Paris, Dubai and Hong Kong.

Earlier, Director-General of ABUCCI, Mr Joe Wenegieme, said the chamber had made history by being the first in the nation to establish such centre, just as he assured ABUCCI members that the centre would be used effectively to solve any conflict that sprang up among the members.

The chairman of the committee, Mr Emeka Obegolu who spoke on behalf of the committee members, thanked the chamber for finding them worthy to handle the responsibility, while assuring members that the committee would not disappoint them.