He said ICT is the answer to meet the demands of the judicial system, thereby enabling the court to keep records and disseminate information smoothly. However, he explained to Awoko Newspaper that among the challenges his office face with is lack of financial support. He said government budget allocated to the Judicial is not enough to substantiate or facilitate the reformation process in the judiciary.
With ICT, the transformation and dissemination of information within the court system will be effective, efficient and transparent and will save time and money.
“We intend to strengthen our court processes and case management to ensure that we deliver on our national vision of making justice accessible. We intend to strengthen our institutional arrangements and organizational process. We will review our organizational structure and create structures and functions that will enable us to function more effectively and efficiently. At the same time, we intend to review and improve our management processes of planning, coordination and effective management of people,” he pointed out.
Justice Charm also explained that they are embarking on the process of recruiting competent and professional judicial and support staff to enable them to transform and to fulfil their mandate and obligations. As part of the reform process, he continued, his office will strengthen their accountability and transparency within the court system, thereby consulting regularly with their partners and stakeholders.
“We will continue to collaborate with the Government in carrying out these endeavours; we will also need the continued support of our development partners to carry on with our reform journey”.
“To rebrand the court system from paper filing to computerize system needs substantial amount which the Judiciary does not have at the moment”, therefore he appealed to the government and international organizations to support them in their reformation process as means to promote quality service to the people.
Chief Justice Charm also spoke about the inadequate personnel of legal practitioners such as Magistrates who he said would be working together with the government to recruit more magistrates. He mentioned that government is seeking support from the government of Nigeria to assist with sitting Magistrates who will help to alleviate theses challenges.
