Engaging citizens participation in local dev’t: NW Public Independent Conciliator says work continues on ground.

He made the remark Thursday, September 26, in Bamenda. This was during a ceremony to officially close the campaign, which was launched earlier in July this year.

Speaking during an open question and answer session together with his close collaborators, the Public Independent Conciliator revealed that the campaign, which was launched three months ago, has recorded a huge success.

Tamfu added that this is per the feedback and reactions his office has received from both the population and the municipal authorities. 

"The indications of success for this campaign are that the message has passed, and we have feedback from the municipalities which indicates that the population is now participating in the affairs of the councils and also, mayors are prepared to incorporate the population in the planning of projects from the council," Tamfu said.

He noted that their target is that at least 90% of citizens should participate in council activities in the region.

"This closing is just a formal issue; we would gather elements to the extent where we would be assured that the participation of the citizens in council business is not less than 90%. That will be a success criterion, we want to go as far as that and we have the means because we have people working in the communities," Tamfu added.

Despite the already engaging nature of the campaign, challenges like security problems, kidnapping of community-based assistants, poor roads and others were highlighted as setbacks of the project.

But the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator assured that follow-up will be done to identify areas where they are lacking, for readjustments.

Mayors reaffirmed commitment to engage citizens 

Also present during the closing ceremony were some Mayors like Ihimbru Solomon of the Benakuma Council and Mbigha Felix of Bamenda I Council.

Both municipal authorities reassured the Public Independent Conciliator that their councils will continue working with the population in all council activities.

According to Mayor Ihimbru Solomon, his council has already been working with the population.

"We have been passing through the communities to execute our various projects, and we have been inviting the community to our council sessions through the traditional rulers and NGOs," Mayor Ihimbru said.

On his part, Mayor Mbigha Felix said the campaign launched by the PIC is coming to boost and sustain the development of the council.

Mbigha revealed that just like his peers, his council has been working together with the community including the elite. 

He added that the elite of Bamendankwe, in August this year, visited and evaluated some of the projects executed by the council.

The campaign by the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator, which was launched early in July, is aimed at educating the population on their rights and duty to participate in council affairs, and also to inform council authorities that they must involve the population in every activity of the council.

The North West Public Independent Conciliator is working on the project in all council areas in the region, through the help of some community-based assistants. It is in line with the decentralisation law of December 2019 on the institution of the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities, which stipulates that local authorities must work in synergy with the population.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3245 of Monday September 30, 2024