Eldest Senator urges peers to work towards enhancing country’s dev’t.

The call was made yesterday by Senator Rene Ze Nguele, eldest member of the Senate. He was speaking in his capacity as head of the Provisional Bureau of the third senate legislature that began meeting for its session as of right Tuesday. The session is taking place at the Yaounde Conference Centre.

Ze Nguele was assisted in the exercise by the two youngest senators, Kotoko Michel and Afane Jeane Caroline. 

In attendance at yesterday’s opening session were; members of government led by the Prime Minister, Head of  Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute; the President of the Constitutional Council, Chief Justice Clement Atangana, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies, and the Senior Vice Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Hilarion Etong.

After a reading of the Constitutional Council decision confirming the election of 70 senators voted on March 12, and Presidential decree appointing 30 senators, Ze Nguele said the quorum was verified and attained for business to commence. 

In his preliminary statement, the eldest senator expressed his delight to be a senator of the third legislature of Senate. 

“It is my pleasure to preside over the present proceedings consecrated to the opening of proceeding as of right of the current senate legislative. I want to thank God for the privilege to be alive for this occasion,” the eldest senator said, before thanking the “Head of State for renewing his confidence in me, by appointing my modest person as senator for the third consecutive time”. 

Ze Nguele asked his peers to actively take part in the decentralisation option of the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, for the country’s development.

He urged them to be disciplined, available and demonstrate a sense of responsibility in the exercise of their functions. 

“I therefore urged each of you to ensure that the present session should unfold within the best possible conditions,” he mentioned.

Senator Ze Nguele added that: “This third legislature of Senate will be one characterised by all challenges; the challenge of reinforcing the role of the Senate as a house of parliament charged with voting laws and to control government’s actions, the challenge of the implementation by the Senate of its institutional role representing decentralised territorial collectivities, and the challenge of active participation of senators in the implementation of our democratic processes as envisage by the Head of State, President Paul Biya”. 

In the days ahead, the 100 elected and appointed senators will setup a commission to ascertain the compatibility of senators, vote a permanent bureau and put in place nine general committees. 

It is hoped that the august chamber of Parliament will ensure via lobby for effective and productive governance and monitoring of government action. The Provisional Bureau was also assisted in the proceedings by the Senate Deputy Secretary General, Bernard Wongolo.