Court President commends Nigerian government for allocation of new office building

The President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice Hon. Justice Edward Amoako Asante on Monday, 28^th June 2021 commended the Federal Republic of Nigeria for providing a replacement office accommodation for the Court and urged staff to see the relocation to the more congenial building later in the year as an opportunity for increased performance.

At the opening of the 13^th Administration and Budget retreat of the Court, the first non-judicial activity of the court since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the President said the new and more spacious building will provide a more congenial working environment with anticipated improvements in staff output and conduct.

The President who was represented by the Vice President, Justice Gberi-be Ouattara said provisions have been made in 2022 budget to accommodate the concomitant costs of the movement to the new complex of the Court.

The President noted with elation that the retreat marked the resumption of Court activities after its disruption by the Covid -19 pandemic which significantly affected the working arrangement in compliance with the attendant protocol.

However, he said the outbreak has spawned some positive developments as it has enabled the Court to deploy virtual technology which has helped the Court address on of the challenges confronting the Court; improving access to citizens at a more affordable cost.

He noted that some strategic staff will be disengaging from the service of the Court in 2022 after years of meritorious service and urged the relevant departments to earnestly begin the process for their replacement to ensure that their departure did not significantly affect the operations of the Court in delivering its mandates and for a seamless transition.

In presenting the objectives of the retreat, the Director Administration and Finance, Dr. William Deiyan Towah stated that consistent with Article 11 of the Manual of Accounting Procedures, the 2022 draft budget is made of two components: administration and programs.

Moreover, he said that in compliance with Article 12 of the ECOWAS Manual of Accounting Procedures, cost estimate were solicited from the various departments/directorates, including the judges’ offices in deriving the draft budget, stating that the draft budget will be presented to allow all participants to make input and finally endorse the draft budget.

He added that the draft budget may be subjected to some modifications given that the Court acted proactively in preparing the draft ahead of the issuance of the annual budget circular which is usually issued at the end of July or in early August by the Commission.