NW Public Independent Conciliator publishes ugly 2023 report card of mayors.

The Public Independent Conciliator, PIC, for the North West Region, Tamfu Simon Fai, made the reports public on March 5. It was in the presence of the media that the annual activity report was made public.

According to Degree No. 2020/773 of 24 December 2020, to lay down conditions for discharge of duties of the Public Independent Conciliator, PIC, Article 25 states that the PIC shall submit to the President of the Republic an annual report on the state of relations between citizens, regional and council services.

It was on this premise that the PIC revealed that the 2023 annual report was submitted on February 8, 2024, to the Head of State.

"March 5, 2024, 26 days after submitting to the President of the Republic, I am therefore, within the provisions of the law, publishing it today," Tamfu Simon said.

According to Tamfu Simon, the report is in five rubrics, including the activities of the PIC in 2023, key activities carried out, examining the functioning of regional and local authorities and their relations with citizens, underscoring major challenges faced, and presenting perspectives and recommendations for better performance in 2024.

NW mayor's 2023 report cards

Following a survey carried out in 2023 by the office of the PIC for the North West Region on administration and management of council services and the protection of rights, results indicate that some mayors manage councils as their private estates.

"In line with citizen's perception on the administration and functioning of councils, 74.4% of the population said the relationship between mayors and their deputies is friendly, while 26% said the relationship is unfriendly and that mayors manage councils as their private estates," Tamfu said.

It was disclosed that while some of the councils work appropriately and in accordance with the law, some work with discrimination, corruption, bribery, harassment, poor execution of projects, poor management of resources, and others.

Some of the results are as follows. Bribery and corruption: Wum Council, 86%; Njinikom Council, 70% and Bamenda II Council, 63%. Extortion: Wum Council, 58%; Ndop Council, 57% and Kumbo Council, 54%. Unfair taxation: Ako Council, 83%; Elak Council, 57% and Ndop Council 57%. Misappropriation/mismanagement of resources: Njinikom Council 60%; Zhoa, Council 45% and Misaje Council, 39%.

Harassment by council workers: Ako Council, 52%; Furu-Awa Council 41% and Njinikom Council, 40%.

Trespass on land/property: Furu-Awa Council, 46%; Andek Council, 38% and Bamenda I Council, 32%.

Impoliteness/inattention: Nkor Council, 44%; Furu-Awa Council, 41% and Nwa Council, 37%. Unethical practices: Mbengwi and Misaje Councils lead with 40% each.

Recommendations

Considering difficulties like high insecurity and late disbursement of budgets, and upon examining the functioning of the local authorities, the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator made some recommendations for the local authorities to realise optimum performance in 2024.

The PIC added that he will summon the mayors for a sincere working session in order to better the situation in 2024.

Recalcitrant mayors given another warning

Following the rising complaints by the population on extortion on the issuance of civil status documents like birth, marriage and death certificates, the PIC reiterated that some councils still collect money from the population.

He added that he has written to councils that have not published press releases on free civil status documentation to do so with immediate effect.

"We are going to make sure that mayors or councils don't take any money from the population when issuing civil status documentations. Some councils have written that they no longer take money, while some are still recalcitrant, but we are after them," Tamfu said.

This is not the first time that the office of the North West PIC is publishing its annual activity report. It did same in 2021 and 2022. 

However, there are repeated calls that sanctions like withdrawal of the signatures of some of the recalcitrant mayors be done to deter others. This, the PIC said, can only be made possible by the Head of State.