Yаounde, Wednesday, 7 October 2020
REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON Peace-Work-Fatherland
PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE SECRETARIAT GENERAL
REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN Paix-Travail-Patrie
SERVICES DU PREMIER MINISTRE SECRETARIAT GENERAL
PRESS RELEASE FOLLOWING THE NATIONAL DECENTRALIZATION BOARD MEETING OF WEDNESDAY 7 OCTOBER 2020
The Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chairperson of the National Decentralization Board, His Excellency Joseph DION NGUTE, this Wednesday 7 October 2020, from 10 a.m., chaired the first ordinary session of the said Board for 2020, which was attended by statutory members of this Board.
The following items featured on the agenda, namely:
- the report of the activities carried out by the Permanent Secretariat of the National Decentralization Board during the inter-session period, presented by the Permanent Secretary of the NDB;
- report on the implementation of some previous instructions by the Minister of Basic Education and the Minister of Public Works;
- statement of the Minister of Decentralization and Local Development on: "the state of play of the projects undertaken to speed up decentralization with a view to establishing Regions";
- statement of the Minister of Finance on: "financing of activities to establish the Regions and the definition of the quota of financial resources to be allocated to Regional and Local Authorities";
- statement of the President of the Association of United Councils and Cities of Cameroon (UCCC) on; "the major concerns of Regional and Local Authorities at the dawn of the new legal system, together with the recommended solutions".
In his opening address, the Prime Minister pointed out that this session was held following the convening of the electoral colleges by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA, to elect Regional Councillors. This would speed up the decentralization process according to the will of the vast majority of Cameroonians and in accordance with the recommendations of the Major National Dialogue.
The Permanent Secretary, while reporting on the activities carried out during the inter-session period, pointed out that this body has notably taken steps to follow up the implementation of the instructions of the Head of Government, the organization of and participation in meetings to review draft instruments on decentralization.
In their respective reports on the implementation of the previous instructions, the Minister of Basic Education pointed out that the distribution of the minimum package is on-going despite the various constraints. The Minister of Public Works noted that the financial resources for the roadside vegetation management have been sent to most of the beneficiary councils.
In his statement, the Minister of Decentralization and Local Development, outlined the general background of decentralization in Cameroon and the state of play, before addressing issues relating to the establishment of Regions as Regional and Local Authorities.
He stated that, the draft instruments required to set up the Regional Councils, are being finalised. It is same for discussions to determine the necessary resources to set up Regions.