The National Judicial Council (NJC) has issued a set of new directives aimed at tackling delays in the dispensation of justice across the country. The move is part of the Council’s renewed commitment to enhancing judicial efficiency, accountability, and the integrity of court proceedings.
The directives, which took immediate effect, were issued pursuant to the Council’s constitutional mandate under Paragraph 21 of Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers it to regulate the performance and discipline of judicial officers.
Among the key highlights of the NJC’s directives is the requirement for judicial officers to deliver rulings and judgments within the constitutionally prescribed period of 90 days. Failure to comply without reasonable justification may result in disciplinary measures.
Additionally, all Heads of Court are now mandated to submit quarterly reports on pending judgments and rulings within their jurisdiction. These reports are to be submitted to the NJC’s Monitoring Committee, which has been empowered to track compliance and recommend sanctions where necessary.
The NJC also directed that no court shall adjourn any matter sine die (indefinitely). Where a judge is unavailable for a prolonged period, the matter must be reassigned to another judge to avoid undue delay.
To address the misuse of ex parte orders, the Council reiterated that such orders should only be granted in exceptional cases of real urgency and must not last beyond seven days, after which a hearing with notice must be held.
Further, trial courts are now to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJL) to prevent unnecessary adjournments and to ensure speedy trials.
The NJC emphasized that these directives form part of a broader initiative to restore public confidence in the judiciary and to uphold the right to a fair and timely hearing.
In a statement accompanying the directives, the NJC urged all judicial officers and Heads of Court to implement the measures diligently and to embrace a culture of punctuality, discipline, and excellence in the performance of their judicial duties.
