Kumba I mayor decries delay in disbursement of subvention to councils.

According to the mayor, the quarterly subvention (additional taxes) from the State has been irregular. Eseme said the situation makes it difficult for councils to do proper planning and effectively execute projects. 

The situation he stated, seems to be the more frustrating as even the Regional Treasury is also retarding in paying bills. 

The mechanism for bills payment at the treasury, he also said, has caused most contractors to stop bidding for projects.

2023 specifics

Going by the mayor, the 2023 budget of Kumba I Sub-divisional Council stood at the sum of 863,854,000 FCFA, both in revenue and expenditure. Of this amount, he said, the sum of 555,471,221 FCFA was collected while 537,570,401 FCFA was spent. This, Mayor Eseme said, shows a surplus of 17,900,820 FCFA which was carried forward to 2024

For the stores management accounts for 2023, he said it was closed at the sum of 61,060,520 FCFA for purchases while 41,923,567 FCFA went for consumables and 26,651,117 FCFA was spent by way of services rendered.

He averred that the stores management accounts for 2023 registered a significant growth compared to that of 2022 when it stood at 18,051,000 FCFA for both goods and services rendered.

Projects execution

In the domain of projects executed during the 2023 fiscal year, the mayor stated that few were done using internal revenue.

He cited the dredging of the waterway from Kumba-Town to the Regional Hospital Annex bridge in the Station neighbourhood, dredging of Banga Water stretching from Mbonge Road-Casssava Farms II and construction of culvert at Fomenky Street junction.

Meanwhile, under Public Investment, the following projects were realized: the rehabilitation of classrooms at GBPS Kumba Mbeng. The project, the mayor said, has been received and put at the disposal of the beneficiary institution under the Ministry of Basic Education.

Mayor Eseme also presented to councillors the construction of street roads with paved blocks from Vianello Hotel to SATA workshop Junction with state-transferred credit from the Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development. 

The work, the municipal authority said, has been realized at 100%. 

The Council, according to the mayor also constructed two cocoa ovens at Kake I & Kake II villages with funding from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The ovens, the council executive said, are currently being used by the farmers of both villages after their respective reception.

Other achievements of the council are; reforestation activities at Lake Barombi Mbo Forest Reserve by Kumba I Sub-divisional Council with assistance from the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife. 

Over 5,000 trees were planted and are currently being monitored by the council's forestry department. There is also the rehabilitation of the road adjacent to Army Rescue at New Quarters to Njuki and environs with funding from the Ministry of Public Works. 

Works realised so far, it was disclosed, stand at 80%.  The late award, the mayor said, was due to the non-approval of authorisation for it to be executed under direct labour.

The Council also realised the project for support to small and medium sized enterprises within Kumba I municipality. The mayor said the Council also supplied school material to some government primary schools within the municipality.

Also recorded among achievements is the completion of phase II of works for the construction of a fence at Bukemue Integrated Health Centre. Funding for the project was granted by the Ministry of Public Health. 

There was also support to vulnerable population through the provision of assistive devices. The Council, it was also disclosed acquired a giant generator at the cost of 10,000,000 budge.

SDO calls for more work

The Second Assistant Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Meme, Hermia Njonje, who observed deliberations saluted the Kumba I  Council  but called for more work.

Njonje said the 2023 budget realisation stood at 62%, down from 79% in 2022.

Recurrent expenditure, she said, stood at 61% while Investment expenditure was 60%. To her, the rate of realization of projects was encouraging with most Public Investment Projects realized at 100%.

The representative of Meme SDO applauded the mayor for his resilience. She however said more can be done to boost revenue collection. Also present at the session was the Nfon of Kumba and Paramount Ruler of the Bafaw, His Majesty Senator Nfon Mukete IV Ekoko; the Regional Chief of the Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance (FEICOM) for the South West, Tanyi Mbianyor Margaret Epse Nkwetta.