The press conference of the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms on Friday also centred on how the exercise has evolved.

It sounded unrealistic on February 10, when the Head of State, Paul Biya announced the recruitment of 25,000 youths into the Public Service. At first, public opinion held that the dream to absorb 25,000 youths into the Public Service was far-fetched. Even when the Prime Minister, Head of Government created a commission for the special recruitment in February, waves of uncertainty continued to loom on the lips of many Cameroonians. The recruitment exercise was placed under a committee headed by the Secretary General of the Prime Minister’s office, Jules Doret Ndongo and the technical management of the Ministry of Public Service headed by Emmanuel Bonde, its Minister.

The press conference of November 11 by the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, Emmanuel Bonde only came to add to the methodical process which began after the announcement of the recruitment process. The process that witnessed a turning point when candidates’ files were scrutinised according to the different fields. Doors of regional governors were opened for the reception of files for the exercise from March 14 to April 14 during which a total of 305,606 files were received. But another turning point of the promise was on August 1, when the first names of preselected applicants were made public. But the icing of the cake came when preselected candidates started signing preliminary contracts in Regional Governors’ offices on September 7.

During the heavily attended press conference at the Advanced School of Administration and Magistracy, last Friday November 11, Mr Emmanuel Bonde, invited the 25,012 preselected candidates in the special recruitment of 25,000 workers into the civil service to submit their files and sign preliminary contracts latest November 18 without which they will be replaced. He urged them to go to Governors’ offices and submit their files. He however warned candidates caught in feet-dragging to be beware as the deadline for the reception of the files remains November 18 and there will be no extension. Besides explaining the procedures, the Minister also cleared controversies arising from the recruitment process.

Telling Figures

The Minister during the press conference came back to figures. He said out of the preselected, 45 per cent were female and 55. 10 per cent felt within the age group of less than 25 years, 60 between 25 to 24 years and 29 per cent between 35 to 40 years. The Minister invited physically challenged people who were not preselected to submit their invalidity documents along with proof that they had submitted documents for the special recruitment. The files will be re-examined and qualified persons will be given a chance in the public service. The handicapped had earlier protested at the Prime Minister’s, their 0.2 per cent representation in the exercise. A total 535 files were received from the physically challenged and 52 were preselected.

Availability of Salaries

The Minister on Friday assured preselected candidates that their salaries will be ready as soon begin work. He disclosed that they have received assurance from the Minister of Finance that all has been put in place to ensure that selected candidates who begin work their salaries as soon as possible. Finance, Mr Bonde said, is therefore not a hindrance to the exercise. The Public Service is in dire need of staff and the earlier the candidates take office the better for the system and the earlier that have their salaries, he hinted.

So far, 25,012 candidates were preselected, distributed in almost all the fields that make up the country’s public service. Some ten fields either did not receive files or received files that were unqualified. In a nutshell, the Minister warned preselected candidates that they have until November 18 to sign their preliminary contracts without which they will be excluded. Another list, he said, will be published. . He stressed, on November 11 as was the case on June 29, same place, same purpose that government want competent workers at the right places who can take Cameroon’s civil service.