Politique

Powers, Resources : Complete Transfer Still Major Challenge

Par Emmanuel
06 nov. 2020 09:24
0 Likes

Government has put in place mechanisms for the devolution of powers and corresponding resources to local and regional authorities to accelerate local development.

Prime Minister, Head of Government, Joseph Dion Ngute who is also the chairperson of the National Decentralisation Board on October 7, 2020 during the board meeting instructed all members of government concerned with the devolution of powers to Regions to forward to the Minister of Decentralisation and Local Development within eight days, the relevant draft instruments, together with their specifications for their sanction.
In respect of Section 17 of the Law No. 2019/024 of December 24, 2019 to Institute the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities, “The State shall devolve to local authorities the powers necessary for their economic, social, educational and sports development.” Section 21 of the Law further states that, “The devolution of powers to local authorities shall be accompanied by the transfer, by the State to local authority, of the resources and means necessary for the effective exercise of such powers.” Besides resources from the budgets of the ministries concerned with the devolution of powers, the Common Decentralisation Fund has been instituted for the partial financing of decentralisation with a good sum of the money expected to be transferred to local authorities. For instance, FCFA 36 billion is budgeted to be devolved to Cameroon’s 360 local councils this financial year 2020.
Powers Devolved
Section 156 of the Law on the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities specifies powers devolved to local authorities. The powers are: “promotion of council agricultural, pastoral, artisanal and fish farming activities; development and management of council tourist sites; construction, equipping, management and maintenance of markets, motor parks and slaughterhouses; organization of local trade fairs; support to income-generating and job-creating micro-projects; and exploitation of mineral substances that cannot be given out as concession.” The powers devolved to Regional Authorities as stated in Section 267 of the law include: “promoting small and medium-sized enterprise, organizing trade fairs and exhibitions; promoting handicrafts; promoting agricultural, pastoral and fishery activities; encouraging the creation of regional groupings for economic operators; supporting income-generating and job-creating micro-projects; and promoting tourism.”