Both government and development partners have taken a number of measures to encourage State workers not to flee their stations.

The phenomenon of civil servants failing to turn up at their stations or abandoning such soon after arriving, is no longer news in Cameroon. The practice has been going on for years.  Amongst the reasons often advanced for the behaviour is the remote nature of some work stations, harsh climatic conditions and the fact that it often takes long - at times years – for nearly recruited State employees to begin to receive salaries.

However, government and various development partners have not remained indifferent to the situation. In order to encourage workers to pick up posting and remain in place, government has for example provided free lodging and utilities in the Bakassi Peninsular of the South West Region. This is especially urgent in this area where easier accessibility is by water and most of the inhabitants are foreigners. On the other hand, government has put in place a system for fast-tracking the processing of newly recruited workers’ files. This, to some measure, is to ensure that they concentrate on their jobs and not keep coming to Yaounde “to follow up” their files in various government offices.

Similarly, some foreign-sponsored health projects in the country offer output allowances. This applies to remote areas - the aim being to boost output and change work mentality among State employees. In the Boumba and Ngoko Division of the East Region, the Yokadouma Council, like in many other places in Cameroon, pays monthly stipends to newly recruited teachers and other State employees who are yet to begin receiving pay. They are also offered free housing to lure them to stay on instead of abandoning their jobs. Given the area’s distance and relative remoteness, only such measures do encourage workers to stay on. A similar treatment is given Parent Teacher Association, PTA teachers.

In the North West Region, it is commonplace for community members to freely offer their homes to be used as classes, offices or residence for arriving State employees. The intention is to facilitate work for civil servants who are obliged to serve in remote communities where office or classroom space has not yet been provided by the State. In many instances, such communities do not have enough decent accommodation for those posted there.