Abuja: The ECOWAS Court has advocated for stronger collaboration between its College of Judges and support staff to bolster shared commitment to excellence, professionalism, integrity, and effective justice delivery. Justice Ricardo Gon§alves, the Court’s President, emphasized this initiative during the court’s 2025 Judicial Retreat, themed ‘Efficiency and Effectiveness: Streamlining Processes for a Dynamic ECOWAS Court,’ held in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Justice Gon§alves explained the necessity of strengthening the collaboration between judges and staff members, highlighting that no division of powers should exist between them. He underscored that every staff member, regardless of their grade or function, exists to support judges in their duties, which is the fundamental purpose of the staff structure, with Department Directors playing a crucial role.
Justice Gon§alves further stated that the authority of judges, as the guardians of the court’s judicial mandate, must never be compromised by administrative attitudes or personal considerations. He insisted that collaboration should be seen as a duty and moral obligation rather than a matter of choice. He cautioned staff members against assuming greater responsibilities than judges due to their positions, especially concerning the interpretation of community legal texts or the management of resources, which are exclusively within the judges’ purview.
The Community Court President noted that the existing level of collaboration has not always been satisfactory and called for immediate improvements. He warned that the court’s leadership would enforce the Staff Regulations to ensure discipline and accountability. A Disciplinary Procedure Manual, prepared for this purpose, will be presented during the retreat, aimed at ensuring justice and transparency, where every staff member understands their rights and responsibilities.
Justice Gon§alves also described the retreat as a moment for reflection and a platform for renewing commitment, discipline, and integrity in the service of justice. He mentioned the retreat is a venue for judges to review the court’s departments’ functioning and contributions to the institution’s work. Additionally, judges will assess the collaboration from departments, which support their justice administration roles, and review the implementation of previous retreat recommendations.
Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, the Court’s Chief Registrar, earlier underscored the retreat’s objective to enhance staff capacity to support judges effectively and improve efficiency, productivity, and synergy. He stated that the retreat’s theme was chosen to highlight the necessity of enhancing staff efficiency and productivity. The retreat aims to establish actionable guidelines for the court’s departments and divisions, promoting institutional effectiveness and assessing the court’s capacity to deliver timely and responsive justice.