Well-being of citizens remains constant priority of President Biya – Finance Minister.

A region of transition and convergence, Adamawa is a true link between the northern and southern regions of our country. It is at once a melting pot of people and cultures, a strategic economic crossroads and, above all, a major pillar of national food sovereignty. Its agro-pastoral potential, recognised far beyond our borders, makes it a key region for the economic, social and even security stability of Cameroon.

In this regard, I would like to congratulate the Governor of the Adamawa Region, the President of the Regional Executive, and all the administrative, municipal and traditional authorities for the maturity they have shown in preserving this stability in the security context that has prevailed in the Greater North region in general and in the Adamawa Region in particular during the post-election period. 

Allow me to express my gratitude to all these authorities and to the people of the entire region for the warm, fraternal and courteous welcome they have given me and the delegation accompanying me since my arrival in this city.

I am equally delighted by the large and high-quality turnout of all those involved in the budgetary chain, elected officials, economic operators, heads of decentralised services and the driving forces of the region.

I am equally delighted by the large and high-quality turnout of all the actors in the budgetary chain, elected officials, economic operators, heads of decentralised services and the driving forces of the region. Your mobilisation demonstrates your interest in the rigorous management of public finances and the performance of public action in the service of development.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today's ceremony is part of the technical support provided by the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with other ministries, notably the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, the Ministry of Public Contracts and the Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development, to actors in the budgetary chain with a view to the optimal implementation of our Republic's finance laws.

With regard to the finance law for the 2026 financial year, it is in line with the implementation of the 2020-2030 National Development Strategy, which constitutes the reference framework for government action and aims to structurally transform our economy, strengthen its resilience to internal and external shocks, and ensure inclusive growth that creates jobs and sustainable wealth.

For the 2026 financial year, the objective remains to consolidate the public finance situation, while ensuring the effective implementation of the priority objectives set by the President of the Republic for the next seven-year term. 

It also focuses on optimising the mobilisation of non-oil domestic revenue while ensuring the sustainability of economic activity, taking particular care not to create distortions that would undermine the competitiveness of businesses.

This will involve: in terms of security, continuing to maintain surveillance both at the borders and in urban areas, especially in a post-election context; economically, implementing the Initial Stimulus Programme (P21); accelerating the implementation of the Integrated Plan for Import Substitution in Agropastoralism and Fisheries (PIISAH); strengthening energy supply and electricity transmission and distribution capacities; restore the financial balance of the electricity sector, in particular through the repurchase of ACTIS shares from ENEO; develop transport infrastructure and open up production areas, including the rehabilitation of urban roads; continue the reconstruction of the North-West, South-West and Far North regions; and combat climate change; on the social front, to step up technical and vocational training; to continue health monitoring to guard against epidemics and pandemics; to upgrade the technical facilities of hospitals; increase the provision of school infrastructure at the local level; preserve the purchasing power of vulnerable households; intensify the Social Safety Nets Project; promote labour-intensive approaches (HIMO), particularly for women and young people; and continue to implement the commitments contained in the National Gender Policy.

In terms of governance, accelerate the decentralisation process through the implementation of the local taxation law; continue to clear the State's domestic debt and reform public finance management.

This finance law reflects the Government's desire to consolidate the economic recovery observed in recent years, strengthen productive public investment, and preserve macroeconomic and budgetary balances, while continuing efforts to support household purchasing power and protect the most vulnerable social groups.

Particular attention is paid to the advancement of young people and women, with the creation of a special fund to support women's economic empowerment and promote youth employment, in accordance with the Head of State's high-level guidelines.

With regard to decentralisation in particular, the Finance Act for the 2026 financial year marks a decisive step in the consolidation of local taxation, following the adoption of the relevant law in 2024. By enshrining the effective transfer of certain tax revenues to decentralised local authorities, this reform aims to strengthen their financial autonomy in the long term and give them the means to fully exercise their powers. It thus makes it possible to substantially increase the tax resources allocated to municipalities and regions, while giving concrete and operational content to the tax basket devolved to the regional level, the cornerstone of the deepening of the decentralisation process.

As part of the implementation of this structural reform, specific mechanisms have been put in place by the budget, tax and accounting departments of the Ministry of Finance to ensure the effective collection and regular transfer of revenue to the CTDs. 

Although these mechanisms could be improved, they represent a significant step forward and must be complemented by greater involvement of regional and municipal executives, particularly in terms of mobilising own revenues, controlling expenditure and prudent debt management. Without rigorous and sustainable financial governance at the local level, the efforts made by the public authorities may not produce the desired results.

To support all these actions, the State will need to mobilise significant resources. To this end, the Finance Act includes tax and customs provisions aimed not at increasing the tax burden, but at broadening the tax base, simplifying procedures and securing revenue collection. In fact, the Finance Act includes numerous measures designed to encourage investment, promote youth employment and improve household purchasing power.

The same applies to the agro-pastoral sector, the economic pillar of the Adamawa Region, which receives sustained attention in this law and in previous ones. Numerous tax exemptions are provided for farmers, both during the investment and operating phases, allowing the cost of investment in the agricultural sector (agriculture, livestock and fisheries) to be reduced by nearly 30%. These include, but are not limited to: exemption from tax and employer contributions on wages paid to seasonal agricultural workers; exemption from VAT on the purchase of pesticides, fertilisers and inputs, as well as equipment and materials for agriculture, livestock farming and fishing; exemption from registration fees for transfers of land used for agriculture, livestock farming and aquaculture; exemption from registration fees for loan agreements intended to finance agricultural, livestock and fishing activities; exemption from property tax on properties owned by agricultural, livestock and fishing enterprises and used for these activities, excluding office buildings; exemption during the first five years of operation from business licence fees and advance payments and minimum income tax collection.

These measures, among many others, are clear proof, if any were needed, of the government's firm commitment to making agriculture a real driver of economic growth in our country. 

They reflect the clearly stated ambition to give a decisive boost to agricultural production and the promotion of local processing of our products, in order to create more added value, stimulate employment and strengthen the resilience of our economy.

These structural measures also aim to preserve, consolidate and sustainably develop strategic economic hubs such as the Adamawa agro-pastoral basin, which plays a key role in supplying national markets and contributing to Cameroon's food sovereignty. 

By placing agriculture at the heart of its priorities, the State is reaffirming its commitment to ensuring balanced, inclusive and sustainable development for the benefit of the population and future generations.

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests,

In order to support the implementation of all public policies, the overall budget for the 2026 financial year is 8,816.4 billion CFA francs, compared to 7,735.9 billion CFA francs in 2025, an increase of 1,080.5 billion, corresponding to a relative increase of 14.0%.

For the Adamawa Region, the allocated budget amounts to 41.2 billion CFA francs, including centrally managed, devolved and decentralised allocations. This budget provides scope for improving access to agro-pastoral production areas, strengthening livestock market infrastructure, improving access to water and electricity in rural areas, and supporting local processing initiatives.

In particular, it will enable the implementation of major projects, including: the asphalting of the N6 national road, section: Banyo-Mayo Darle-Bankim; the asphalting of the Ngatt-Likok road and related developments; the asphalting of the Ngaoundéré-Paro road; the opening up of production areas, particularly the Blinjiba, Kaladji, Malingara, and Békasiki roads to the forest area; construction, extension, equipping and maintenance of secondary schools and colleges in the region; acquisition of artificial insemination kits at the Wakwa Zootechnical Station; construction of pastoral boreholes, to name but a few.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

The efficient implementation of the finance law requires appropriate mechanisms and procedures. To this end, the circular on budget implementation, now accompanied by a specific circular on the implementation of the budgets of decentralised local authorities and a procedures manual, is an essential educational tool available to all stakeholders.

With regard to the implementation of public expenditure in the Adamawa Region in particular, I would like to commend the performance recorded in recent years in the implementation of public investment projects, which reflects the dynamism and professionalism of local stakeholders, whom I would like to congratulate in passing. 

Physical completion rates have reached very impressive levels, sometimes reaching 97%, as was the case in 2023, or 93% in 2024. For the 2025 financial year, assessments indicate a rate of 87% as at 30 November, which suggests that the final assessment will show scores similar to those of previous years.

However, shortcomings remain, including insufficient ownership of project contracting, implementation and monitoring procedures by certain CTD executives; insufficient appropriation of procedures for cancelling expenditure authorisations relating to transferred resources; persistent recourse to the practice of safeguarding appropriations; late start-up of projects for which contracts have already been notified; and the abandonment of several projects in certain departments by co-contractors.

To this end, I would like to take advantage of the platform offered to me today to invite those involved in budget implementation to each take responsibility for their role in achieving our country's development objectives.

To the authorising officers, project owners and delegated project owners, you are the starting point for the execution of public expenditure and, as such, you are responsible for the timely launch of tendering procedures, in particular the preparation of consultation files, the launch and award of contracts and the commitment of related expenditure. 

You are also responsible for monitoring the execution of the works or services undertaken until their completion. To this end, I urge you to proceed next week with the launch of all procurement procedures within your remit, so as to give economic operators the opportunity to tender and perform the said services within the specified time limits and in accordance with the predefined specifications.

To economic operators, you are the partners without whom the budget could not be implemented. As such, you are the main contributors to the state budget, and the level of tax revenue depends essentially on your adherence to the Government's fiscal policy and your willingness to take part in its implementation. 

Therefore, facilitation measures are included in the Republic's finance laws in order to improve your relationship with the tax authorities. You also act as service providers and, as such, you are responsible for carrying out the work and services entrusted to you by the project owners in accordance with the specifications. Your professionalism, or rather your economic patriotism, is the foundation on which the Region's economic and social development is built.

In the decentralised departments of the Ministries of Finance, Economy and Public Procurement, you are at the heart of the Region's budgetary and financial life. You are the custodians of management rules, the guarantors of compliance with procedures and the support of the various stakeholders. 

The efficient execution of the budget depends largely on your mastery of the various budgetary and financial management tools and the speed with which you process the files submitted to you. 

I therefore urge you to put in place all the necessary mechanisms to streamline the processing of files, and I invite you to show greater respect for the ethical and professional rules required in the exercise of your respective functions. 

I am aware that 2025 has been a particularly difficult year, particularly in terms of cash flow, the scarcity of which has not always allowed you to honour the State's commitments to its creditors. 

However, efforts are being made by the Treasury to gradually clear the domestic debt, which should reassure service providers and restore the State's reputation with its local creditors.

To the local elected representatives, I would like to congratulate you on the sacrifices each of you has made for the successful implementation of decentralisation. The advent of the local taxation law represents an opportunity that you must seize to accelerate the development of your various constituencies and be more attentive to the needs of the population. 

More than in the past, you must mobilise your energies to optimise revenue collection, accelerate the implementation of projects included in your respective budgets, and be more realistic when voting on future budgets, taking into account the level of achievement of previous budgets and the capacity to absorb the funds made available to you, so as not to trigger a spiral of debt that would be detrimental to our public finances.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The launch of the state budget is not merely an administrative ritual. It provides an ideal forum for discussion of the challenges involved in implementing finance laws and lays the foundations for horizontal and vertical management dialogue, which I hope will continue in the future.

At the end of this formal phase, technical presentations will be given by senior officials from the ministries responsible for finance, the economy and public procurement. They will focus in particular on the budget implementation circular, the main fiscal, customs and accounting reforms and innovations, the public investment budget, and measures to improve the efficiency of public procurement. 

I invite you to pay close attention to these presentations so that the resulting discussions can help improve the effectiveness of public action on the ground, for the benefit of our people, whose well-being remains a constant priority for the President of the Republic, Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA.

It is on this hopeful note, ladies and gentlemen, dear guests, that I officially declare open the proceedings relating to the launch of the budget of the State and other public entities for the 2026 financial year, starting in the Adamawa Region, while wishing you every success and an excellent 2026.

Long live the Adamawa Region! 

Long live Cameroon!

Thank you for your kind attention.