Lagos – Mrs Adenike Ayanda, the Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Lagos Branch, on Wednesday identified mediation as the best instrument to deploy in resolving disputes between contractors and clients in the building industry.
Ayanda said this at a Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme of the institute in Lagos.
She said that the approach was efficient, reliable, confidential and fast in settling disputes.
According to her, settling disputes through the courts could be more expensive and time consuming.
“Settling disputes through mediation approach is more reliable and confidential because the mediator will consider the feelings of the two parties involved before taking any decision.
“The main focus is to resolve the issue such that the two parties will be happy and no enmity may be created unlike in a court setting where feelings of the parties are not known to the presiding judge,” she said.
She added that the method allowed the parties ample opportunity to express their views better.
Ayanda urged the institute members to update themselves continually with the new approaches and developments of the profession in order to remain relevant in their field of practice.
According to her, the institute will continue to engage in activities that will boost the competence of its members.
“ The major focus of the programme is to ensure that members remain relevant and keep abreast with modern trends in their area of practice,” she said. (NAN)
