Trade Unions, CSOs on gov’t’s throat over vexing national issues!.

Emerging from a meeting in Yaounde, Friday February 3, the trade unions and CSO representatives issued a detailed statement, highlighting what they said is a difficult economic context, an educational system out of touch with reality, the need to review salaries of workers among others.

According to a copy of the release which sanctioned the meeting, a copy of which The Guardian Post read through, a strike action has been announced every Monday beginning February 15 to March 15, 2023.

The authors of the statement who affixed their names and the seal of their organisations on the document insisted that, other stringent actions will be taken after the indicated time if they do not find a common ground with authorities on key issues raised.

In what observers have said is an autopsy of the country, the organisations also pick holes in the nation’s defense apparatus, transport sector, human rights, promotion of youths and women.

Review of Finance Law, adjust workers’ salaries

Mentioning what they said is a careful “reading of the 2023 Finance Law” and the content of the January 31 “release of the  Secretary General at the Prime Minister’s Office”, Seraphin Magloire  Fouda, announcing an increase in fuel prices, the organisations said the reality on the field demands for more.

They wrote that in the last 10 years, the salaries of workers have remained stagnant amid spiraling inflation. They also decried what they said are “obnoxious” provisions of the current Financial Law that makes life unbearable for the citizenry.

The country’s fiscal policy for 2023, they further indicated, has “oppressive and repressive tax measures against…the poorest and most vulnerable categories of people in our society”.

The fiscal regime of the State this year, the signatories also argued, further dampens the potential for job creation and economic growth.

What Seraphin Fouda announced as measures to maintain the purchasing power of consumers on January 31, 2023, they also said, will rather further drive up the prices of basic commodities to the detriment of the common man.

With all these in mind, the oganisations said their new found unity is to push for changes in the interest of the public.

Rising insecurity

The authors of the statement also decried what they mentioned as frightening insecurity across major towns and cities of the polity. 

The picture, they also said, is even frustrating with attacks of rights defenders, journalists and attempts to muzzle the press.  

Going by them, “in the face of insecurity which continues to gain ground” and is affecting, “the common man hard daily especially the case of the “microbes” gang in Douala is very clear”.

They further noted that “institutional insecurity directly targeting social actors, intellectuals, journalists, human right defenders, threats to muzzle free speech,” portray the State as “increasingly failing in its obligation to protect citizens”.

Investigate, arrest embezzlers of AFCON, COVID-19…funds

The groups are also putting pressure on the government to investigate and arrest persons whom they mentioned as having looted funds for different projects.

Top among their examples, the signatories cited the many projects for the hosting of the 33^rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

Some of these projects have not been completed till date. The CSOs and trade union actors also want government to act on what they said is a report from the Audit Bench of the Supreme Court, relating to the management of billions of FCFA allocated for the fight against COVID-19.

They also mentioned budget heads in the Ministries of Finance, the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT viz; line 57, 65 and 94 through which, billions, they insinuated, have been looted.

They also faulted the powers that be for always opening investigations on such matters that always end up in nothing.  Now, the averred, is the time for a clean sweep to revive the country.

Overhaul education policy to meet current market demands

Cameroon’s educational system, they social actors noted in the document, has lost touch with current market demands.

To make amends, those who signed the release noted that, government urgently needs to organise a national forum on education to address the worry.

If this is not done, they observed, thousands of the country’s youth would continue to leave school and not get jobs to live decent lives.

They are thus unanimous that, “the holding of a general forum on education,” is needed, “to make our education system relevant to the 21st century and the requirements of the national and international job markets”.

Cause recruitment of 100,000 youths

Citing what they also observed as “the explosion of underemployment among all categories of citizens, particularly youths who have been forced, despite their education” into activities such as commercial motorcycle riding, setting up of cafeteria, petit trading among others, the CSOs and trade union leaders said government must work out a recruitment plan.

To them, recruiting at “least 100,000 young graduates in the civil service, public and para-public enterprises” will help solve the unemployment situation.

Some youths, they said, have been forced out of the country due to, “the absence of social safety nets, universal health insurance, food, clothing among others”. Most citizens, they said cannot afford the current cost of health in Cameroon.

Review family, child allowance

The same organisations are also pressing for an increase in family allowances. They are further pressing for the extension of child allowance to every Cameroonian child.