At opening of June session: Lawmakers support House Speaker’s call for accountability, reforms.

The House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Theodore Datouo, in his opening address, drew the attention of government to wide-ranging issues affecting citizens.

He cited the cost of living, youth unemployment, education, healthcare, access to water and electricity, infrastructure development, agricultural modernisation and environmental protection. 

The House Speaker also stressed the need for greater transparency in the mining sector and reforms to address land tenure challenges.

Reacting shortly after the opening session, MPs from both the opposition and the ruling party said the speech reflected the concerns of citizens and reinforced Parliament’s responsibilities. The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front, SDF, Hon Joshua Osih, said the address marked a significant shift in parliamentary discourse, particularly regarding the evaluation of public policies and their impact on citizens.

According to Osih, the Speaker focused on Parliament’s responsibility to assess whether public funds entrusted to the government are effectively improving the lives of citizens.

“The National Assembly demonstrated today that change brings new directions, fresh air and oxygen into our country’s democracy. He addressed what is at the very heart of parliamentary life in a modern democracy: ensuring that public policies deliver positive results for citizens,” Osih said.

The SDF Chairman added that the approach was consistent with reforms introduced over the years to strengthen public finance management and transparency.

Osih said the issues the House Speaker highlighted in the speech even without them, is key for the democratic life of our country. “It will help ensure that resources entrusted to the executive can be measured, quantified and evaluated to determine whether they truly improve the daily lives of Cameroonians,” Osih stated.

On his part, opposition MP on the ticket of the Cameroon Democratic Union, CDU, Hon Koupit Adamou, said Parliament must move beyond identifying problems and focus on concrete action. 

He noted that MPs were expecting investigations into the management of mining resources and updates on land reforms.

“We cannot only make diagnoses of the problems in our country. We should act as citizens and institutional leaders, and Parliament is waiting for an investigating committee to examine the management of our mining resources and for government to explain the progress made on land reform,” he said.

To CPDM lawmaker, Njume Peter Ambang, the Speaker’s remarks underscored the importance of Parliament’s oversight role.

“The Speaker spoke from the heart of parliamentarians. He reminded us that we must effectively play our oversight role and hold government accountable for its actions, especially when it comes to implementing what Parliament has approved,” Ambang said.

Another CPDM MP, Hon Aka Martin, welcomed the Speaker’s focus on the management of mineral resources and land administration. 

He said Parliament would continue monitoring government action while advocating measures to facilitate access to land titles and ensure that natural resource exploitation benefits local communities and the nation.

Other MPs also highlighted the Speaker’s appeal for peace, unity and social cohesion. They said parliamentarians had been reminded to remain close to their constituents, listen to their concerns and contribute to national development through responsible legislative and oversight work.

The opening session has set the tone for the next 29 days, during which lawmakers are expected to examine key national issues, including budget orientations, governance reforms and measures aimed at improving citizens’ welfare.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3813 of Wednesday June 10, 2026