North West: Targeting Non-tax Income To Boost Development

B etween September and No­ vember 2026 the Office of the Public Independent Conci­ liator (OPIC) for the North West Re­ gion will be on the field within the framework of a campaign to “Strength revenue mobilisation from non-tax sources while enhancing probity, transparency and accoun­ tability in the financial management of regional and local authorities in the North West Region.” The Public Independent Conciliator Tamfu Si­ mon Fai stated on September 25, 2026 in Bamenda as he officially launched the campaign. The campaign is on the theme, “New sources, new strength: Growing council revenue beyond taxes.” The urgency of non-tax income genera­ tion is justified by the fact that the law has now shifted the collection of municipal taxes and levies from local councils to the central tax ad­ ministration. Councils hitherto de­ pended on the proceeds from the taxes to carry out development. The new law however, offers op­ portunities in the area of non-tax income generation sources to re­ gional and local authorities. Mr Tamfu Simon Fai cited some of the oppor­ tunities to include; markets, parking lots, transport facilities, council pro­ perties including heavy-duty equip­ ment like bulldozers, graders, front- end loaders, trucks, public spaces and services such as the rental of canopies and chairs. During the campaign period, the Of­ fice of the Public Independent Conci­ liator will, “Encourage councils to identify, map and responsibly de­ velop legitimate non-tax revenue opportunities while ensuring that collection is transparent and com­ pliant with applicable regulations,” Tamfu Simon Fai explained. The campaign will also promote digital and traceable revenue systems as well as a means of re...