At close of March session: Speaker tells MPs, National Assembly staff time to get to work.

This was after 29 days of intense parliamentary activities. He reminded MPs that they still have works to do as they return to their constituencies.

Hon Datouo said “the job” of the MPs does not end with amending some provisions of the country's Constitution. He challenged to leverage the amended Constitution as an instrument of peace, unity, living together, stability and tolerance. 

“We are duty bound to keep our constituents abreast with the provisions of the Constitution we have amended…,” he sounded. 

To the staff of the National Assembly, he warned that “it is time for them to get to work!”. He reassured the staff that he is keen on improving the work environment but drummed the need for discipline, assiduousness, efficiency and competence.

“Clearly, the professional conduct of the staff of the National Assembly must reflect the latter's prestige,” he pointed, before emphasizing that “it is our House of Parliament that serves as a crucible where the tone is set for the proper functioning of public institutions and the Republic as a whole. Such is the huge responsibility we have to assume”.  

MPs main architects of change

The House Speaker congratulated the MPs for the sense of “patriotism and responsibly” in voting favourably to the amendment the Constitution at the request of the Head of State.

Lawmakers, he said, remain the “main architects of these important changes”, adding that all is now left for the President of the Republic to promulgate the bill into law.

Hon Datouo urged MPs to “…forge ahead by recognising that dissenting voices must not always be the hallmark of stakeholders of a pluralist parliament”.

Other bills passed

Beside the bill to reinstitute the post of Vice President of the Republic, the elected representatives scrutinised and passed three other bills. 

These included; the bill to extend the term of office of members of the National Assembly, bill to amend and supplement some provisions of the law to lay down the organisation and functioning of the Constitutional Council and the bill to amend some provisions of  the Electoral Code.

He also used the opportunity to thank the Head of State for picking him as Hon Cavaye’s replacement at the helm of the house and his fellow MPs for voting the change into effect. 

Hon Datouo, affirmed that “…from this rostrum of the sovereign people” his firm “determination to do all in my power to deservingly earn the very high mark of confidence bestowed on me”.

A minute of silence was observed in honour of Hon Juimo Monthe Siewe Claude, who died last April 4 after suffering from an illness. 

The late Hon Juimo Monthe was the CPDM MP for the Upper Nkam Constituency in the West Region and a member of the Committee on Economic Affairs, Planning and Regional Development of the National Assembly.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3755 of Thursday April 09, 2026