Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang yesterday, November 10, 2011 in Yaounde instructed members of the National Decentralisation Board to get decrees for the transfer of powers and accompanying resources to Councils in the 2012 fiscal year ready. The Prime Minister, who is also Chairman of the National Decentralisation Board, presided at the Board’s second ordinary session for 2011 at the Star Building.
Talking to the press after the session, the Permanent Secretary of the National Decentralisation Board, Appolinaire Penda said the Prime Minister instructed them to prepare decrees for the transfer of the Common Decentralisation Fund, as well as revenue from taxes and duties, so that the funds be disbursed to councils immediately the execution of the 2012 State budget begins. The Decentralisation Board meeting coincided with the November budget session of the National Assembly during which the people’s representatives will examine and vote the State budget for 2012. Beginning January 2012, the State will devolve powers and resources to the country’s city and local councils for the third consecutive year within the framework of the effective implementation of the decentralisation process. Mr Penda said new powers will be transferred to the Councils within the third generation of the transfer of powers in 2012, but did not specify them.
In the session that held behind closed doors, the Minister of State Minister for Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Marafa Hamidou Yaya, who is Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee for Local Services, presented the 2010 report on the progress of the decentralisation process and functioning of the local services. He also presented the programme for the transfer of powers and resources for the third generation beginning January 2012, sharing out of the Common Investment Fund revenue to Councils for the 2011 fiscal year and the drafted the decree on the sharing out of the Common Decentralisation Fund in 2012. The Minister of Finance, Essimi Menye on his part, presented the different funds transferred for the functioning of Councils in the 2011 fiscal year, projections in the 2012 budget, as well as the payment of local taxes and duties to Councils in 2011 and projections for 2012.
Effective transfer of powers and resources started in 2010 with nine ministries. In 2011, four ministries were added. Close sources at the Inter-ministerial Committee on Local Services indicate that the number of ministries concerned with the transfers will increase from 13 in 2011 to 17 in 2012.
