Justice systems around the world have traditionally been built around a concept of justice that is largely retributive and focused on rigid adherence to written laws. However, it is arguable that the true measure of justice is not the rigid application of the law, but the ability to create a more cohesive society by applying the law. This is the core concept of people-centred justice.

What Is People-Centred Justice?

People-centred justice is a concept of justice that shifts the focus from punishment alone to incorporate ideals such as human rights, empathy, and rehabilitation. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) framework sets out a people-centred approach to justice through four pillars:

• Designing and Delivering People-Centred Services
  Focuses on understanding citizens’ justice needs and providing accessible, effective justice services, particularly for vulnerable groups.

• Governance Enablers and Infrastructure
  Emphasises the role of government and justice actors in creating coordinated, technology-enabled, and simplified justice systems that respond effectively to people’s needs.

• People Empowerment
  Aims to strengthen legal literacy and participation of justice users while building the skills and capacities of justice sector professionals.

• Planning, Monitoring and Accountability
  Centres on the use of justice data to support evidence-based planning, service delivery, performance monitoring, and accountability.

Globally, only a fraction of disputes reach formal courts. In many cases, disputes are resolved using informal channels. What this means is that, in reality, the modern justice system in most places is out of sync with the needs of local populations.

Additionally, while informal channels are often readily available, they may lack the sort of legal basis that makes them binding and, therefore, reliable.

This gap creates both the room and the imperative for state-led community-based justice solutions. A just system that serves the true needs of society must transcend the courtroom and find its way into local communities, ensuring that even those in conflict with the law can rebuild their lives.

Pathways for Reform

Building a people-centred justice system demands a coordinated and systemic response rather than isolated interventions. This is because the problems are multi-sectoral.

The thrust of true, effective reform must begin with stronger collaboration among courts, correctional services, the police, legal practitioners, and the various oversight institutions to ensure continuity and coherence across the justice chain.

To begin with, sustained investment in capacity building is required, particularly for judges and lawyers at the lower court level, where most citizens first encounter the justice system. Targeted training and ethical reinforcement can significantly improve both competence and public confidence.

Accountability and transparency must also be strengthened through consistent reporting, fair and uniform application of laws, and more effective oversight mechanisms. These institutional reforms should be supported by practical investments in infrastructure, including adequate resources for correctional services and reliable logistics to ensure detainees’ access to courts.

Pre-trial processes must be made fairer and more accessible by reforming restrictive bail practices and creating clear incentives for timely legal aid. Collectively, these reforms move the justice system away from a purely punitive model toward one built around the ideal of providing outcomes that protect lives.

Finally, lawyers must be encouraged to put justice before profits, with greater emphasis on pro bono services for indigent defendants who are most vulnerable to systemic neglect. For instance, while there are over 150,000 lawyers called to the Nigerian Bar Association, there are fewer than 100,000 incarcerated persons, which suggests that if every lawyer were to devote some time and resources to offering pro bono legal representation, this would resolve much of the strain on Nigeria’s legal and correctional systems.

The Future of Justice in Nigeria

A people-centred justice system simply asks how we can protect society while prioritising human dignity. For Nigeria, adopting this approach is essential. It will reduce overcrowding in prisons, strengthen public trust, enhance community resilience, and uphold fundamental human rights, reminding all that these rights are not abstract ideals but the foundation of a prosperous society.