The President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, has called on civil society organisations (CSOs) to play a decisive role in strengthening enforcement of the Court’s judgments, cautioning that regional justice risks eroding public confidence if decisions are not implemented.
Speaking Wednesday in Abuja during an engagement with Nigerian non-state actors, Gonçalves stressed that while the Court’s rulings are binding, final and immediately enforceable across member states, weak domestic mechanisms and political reluctance continue to undermine compliance.
“Judgments alone do not deliver justice — compliance does,” he said, underscoring that enforcement is “not merely an administrative procedure but a democratic responsibility.”
He identified civil society as a critical bridge between judicial pronouncements and tangible outcomes for citizens, urging organisations to institutionalise monitoring of judgments, publish independent compliance scorecards, engage legislators and government agencies, and integrate enforcement advocacy into broader policy reform campaigns.
Beyond oversight, Gonçalves encouraged strategic litigation and sustained public awareness initiatives to ensure governments face both legal and civic pressure to fulfil obligations under Community law.
The Court has earned recognition for its expansive human rights jurisprudence. However, delayed or partial implementation of several decisions has fuelled concerns about an enforcement deficit that threatens the credibility of regional justice mechanisms.
Expressing confidence in Nigeria’s institutional and civic capacity, Gonçalves said the country— as a founding member of the regional bloc — is well positioned to model best practices in compliance culture across West Africa. He emphasised that enforcement should be approached as collaborative rule-of-law strengthening rather than confrontation.
Responding on behalf of participating groups, Executive Director of Digicivic Initiative, Mojirayo Ogunlana, affirmed civil society’s readiness to transition from monitoring to partnership.
“Civil society is not here merely to criticise. We are partners in strengthening justice systems,” she said, pledging cooperation with governments, regional institutions and the judiciary to establish sustainable enforcement frameworks.
Ogunlana noted that the legitimacy of any court depends not only on the quality of its jurisprudence but on the willingness of states to comply, describing enforcement as both a treaty obligation and a moral commitment inherent in membership of a rules-based regional bloc.
“For the Court to remain meaningful to citizens, its judgments must translate into real outcomes — compensation paid, rights restored, and safeguards established to prevent repeat violations,” she added.
Also speaking, Acting Registrar for Appeals, Arbitration and Enforcement, Yusuf Danmadami, disclosed that consultations with CSOs had produced actionable proposals that would inform a draft comprehensive enforcement plan currently being developed by the Court.
