Information about increments on family allowances for all workers in the country is now effective. President Paul Biya yesterday 21 January 2016 signed the decree that confirms proposals made on 14 January 2016 by the National Labour Consultative Committee that met in Yaounde to brainstorm on the amount to increase family allowance as promised by President Biya on 31 December 2015 in his address to the nation.                                                                                                        
President Biya pointed out in his New Year message that; “Despite the current economic hardship, I have instructed the Government to implement two key measures: review pump prices of fuel downward; and review upwards, the amount of family allowances paid to workers. These measures will take effect on 1 January 2016.” Some officials even expressed doubts as to what form the addition will take and whether it was feasible within such a limited time lapse given that the Head of State spoke at the end of the month of December. The evolution that both measures have witnessed point to the fact that the decision was already well thought out before the Head of State even made the information public.                                                    
If the decrease in fuel prices took effect from 1^st January 2016, the decision on family allowance needed practical modalities to be applicable. The meeting of stakeholders in the sector on 14 January and the discussions that ensued clearly indicated that not everyone could have the same understanding of the Head of State’s promises. Given that syndicate leaders needed to make their voices heard on the issues, it was imperative that consultations be made.                                                              
Consequently, the Minister of Finance, Alamine Ousmane Mey and the Director General of the National Social Insurance, Alain Olivier Noël Mekoulou Mvondo speaking in the presence of the the Minister of Labour and Social Security succeeded in convincing labour syndicate leaders why the increment could not go beyond FCFA 1,000. The consensus reached on the amount has therefore contributed in ensuring that the amount finally agreed upon responds to the needs of the population and creates the necessary social cohesion that the Head of State desired and of course the amelioration of the living conditions of the population.                                                
Parents who until now took home FCFA 1,800 per child will see the amount increase as of the end of January 2016. Yesterday’s presidential decree does not only demonstrate the sense of realism behind Mr Biya’s promises but the fact that the Head of State understood the precept of a promise being a debt. Perhaps even more is the fact that the syndicate leaders played an important role in deciding the amount to be added as family allowance.                                  
Those who have been debating on whether the measure is intended to encourage demographic growth or not may have their reasons, but the fact remains that the purchasing power of those working within the public and private sectors in the country has been up lifted thanks to the new family allowance. The issue may not always be the take-home amount that individual families will get. The consideration that the initiative gives to all workers remains in itself laudable.                                
Of late, almost every declaration by the Head of State has revolved around the need to make the living conditions of the population better. Yet, the difficult world economic situation, the problem of governance with some State employees taking too much liberty with government funds through corruption, mismanagement and embezzlement has often been setbacks to progress.