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SERVICES DU PREMIER MINISTRE PRIME MINISTERS’ OFFICE
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COMITÉ DE SUIVI DE LA MISE EN ŒUVRE DES COMMITTEE TO
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SECRETARIAT OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
COMPENDIUM of government Actions/Measures Addressing the Situation in the South West and the North West Regions of Cameroon.
INTRODUCTION
Since 2016 when corporate claims morphed into civil
disobedience acts in the North West and South West Regions, the government
elected to address the issues raised through DIALOGUE. It is in this regard
that ad-hoc commissions in both the educational and legal sectors were created,
meetings were organised and actions taken to address the concerns presented by
the corporate bodies.
Following these actions and the wider ramifications
and implications of implementation process, the Head of State, H.E Paul BIYA
convened the Major National Dialogue (MND), a high point, but not the end point
in the dialogue process. The event brought together a wide spectrum of our
compatriots from local communities and villages, urban agglomerations and the
Diaspora from September 30 to October 4, 2019 at the Yaoundé Conference Centre.
The historic event was a unique opportunity to
leverage the collective efforts of all and sundry in reinforcing the bonds of
the Cameroonian common destiny and a major milestone in the very honourable
exercise of constructing the nation. The MND afforded Cameroonians, in line
with the Constitution, the opportunity to seek ways and means of meeting the
high aspirations of the people of the North-West and SouthWest Regions, but
also of all the other components of our Nation.
From the very fruitful and intensive deliberations
of the Major National Dialogue emerged an array of recommendations and steps
were immediately taken not only to ensure their implementation, starting with
the most plausible on account of inherent constraints thereto pertaining, but
also to follow-up on the outcomes achieved and propose remedial measures where
necessary.
In this regard, the following Compendium capture the
milestone measures taken by Government immediately when corporate grievances
were raised by teachers and lawyers (I) and those engaged after the formulation
of recommendations following the successful organisation of the Major National
Dialogue (II).
I- GOVERNMENT ACTIONS FOLLOWING CORPORATE
GRIEVANCES
A- RESPONSE TO TEACHERS
|
Grievance raised |
Action taken |
Date |
Work Status |
|
Poor output of learners, non-mastery of the language of instruction and
acute shortage of teachers in public basic and secondary schools in rural
areas. |
-The Minister
of Secondary
Education
instructed the dispatch of teachers, the bulk of whom were sent to the
North-West and SouthWest Regions. -Francophone lecturers and administrative staff who are not fluent in English were
dispatched from the Universities of Bamenda and Buea. |
Dec 2016 |
Complete |
|
Acute shortage of Anglophone teachers in the technical/ industrial domains, sciences and
French and lack of or shortage of high level qualified Anglophone lecturers
in some domains. |
-The Head of State instructed the recruitment of 1,000 young
bilingual teachers specialised in science and technology. The Minister of
Public Service and Administrative Reforms launched a special recruitment of
1,000 young bilingual graduates. - Recruitment of lecturers in all the 8
State Universities. |
Jun 2017 |
Complete |
|
Poor mastery of some subjects. |
-A
Department of French Modern Letters has been created in the Higher Teachers’ Training College (ENS) of the University of Bamenda.
|
Feb 2017 |
Complete |
|
Sole Use of MCQs as entrance examination instruments
and lack of practical experience for second cycle trainees in |
- Introduction of new examination instruments in addition to Multiple
Choice Questions (MCQ), for entrance examinations into professional schools. |
Jul 2017 |
Complete |
|
the Teachers’ Training Colleges. |
-Creation
of another
Higher Technical Teachers’ Training College (ENSET)
for the francophone subsystem of education. -Creation of a Higher Institute of Engineering and Technology for the
English subsystem (Polytechnic at University of Bamenda). |
|
|
|
Lack of or Shortage of high level qualified Anglophones
in some domains of commerce. |
Reinforcement of the Admission of HND/HPD certificate holders in
particular specialities, into third year of
HTTTCs of the Universities
of Bamenda and Buea, to make up for
the acute shortage of technical teachers in Anglophone schools. |
Sept 2017 |
On going |
|
Harmonisation of programs in the Universities of Buea and Bamenda and
delay of its approval. Non-respect of section 16 (2) of Law No. 98/004 of 14 April 1998 to lay
down guidelines for education in Cameroon. |
The
Minister of Higher Education has ordered for the Harmonization of programmes
in the Universities of Buea and Bamenda. The draft texts to align the technical education certification system
of the English subsystem of education with the guiding principles of the said
system are being finalized. |
Jan 2017 |
On going |
|
Ambiguity on the Higher Education law of April 2001
regarding entry conditions and qualification for students. |
Increase in the number of candidates to be admitted into the HTTCs
and HTTTCs -Admission of candidates into specialization in HTTC and HTTTC of the
Universities of Buea and Bamenda on the basis of their highest
certificates. |
Oct 2018 |
Complete |
|
Harmonisation of Master’s studies. |
-Effective
implementation of harmonised BMD programs in all Universities. -Awarding of end-of-course
diplomas that specify the status of trainees in professional schools. -More
autonomy for the Universities in the organization of competitive entrance
exams into professional schools. |
2018 |
Complete |
|
Very low subvention to lay private and confessional
schools and high taxes on education. |
The President of the Republic ordered a special subsidy of CFA F 2
billion, to be granted to lay private and denominational schools for the 2017
fiscal year. It is in addition to a previously budgeted amount of CFAF 2.3
billion, taking Government effort in this area to CFAF 4.3 billion. |
Sept 2017 |
Complete |
|
Frequent changes of text books on the booklist from
Primary, Secondary to High schools. |
The
policy on textbooks and teaching materials reviewed at the National Forum on Education. One- Text book policy
implemented |
Sept 2017 |
Complete |
B
|
Grievances
raised |
Action taken |
Date |
Status |
|
Availability of the OHADA Law in English. |
the
Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of Seals handed to the
President of the Bar Association, the English version of the Treaty and other
OHADA texts published in the Official Gazette of
OHADA |
Nov 2016 |
Complete |
|
Restitution of Lawyers’ robes and wigs. |
Lawyers’ robes and wigs that were seized by the police were
effectively handed back. |
Dec 2016 |
Complete |
|
Legal action against law enforcement officers who
brutalized lawyers. |
Prosecution of officers involved in brutalization of lawyers |
Dec 2016 |
Complete |
|
Creation within the Supreme Court of a Special Section to review appeals
against decisions in English. |
After adoption by Parliament, the President of the Republic promulgated Law No. 2017/014 modifying the
organization and functioning of the Supreme Court, with the introduction of a
Common Law Section. |
July 2017 |
Complete |
|
Creation at ENAM of a Common Law section. |
The President of the Republic instructed a reorganization of ENAM, to
include a Common Law section. |
Sep 2019 |
On-going |
|
Transfer of Francophone judicial staff who do not
master English. |
The President of the Republic ordered the census of Anglophone
magistrates, in view of increasing their number and the redeployment of
magistrates, following the linguistic criterion. It is in this regard that by
a Decree appointing Anglophone magistrates to the posts of State Counsel in
the Court of First Instance and High Court of Bamenda. |
Jan 2017 |
Complete |
|
Marginalisation of Common Law. |
the President of the Republic ordered the creation of a Faculty of
Law and Political Sciences at the University of Buea, the creation of
Departments of English Law in the Universities of Douala, Dschang,
Ngaoundere, and Maroua, the teaching of Public Law in the Universities of
Buea and Bamenda. These followed the harmonisation of |
Dec 2018 |
Complete |
|
|
the Criminal
Procedure Code among others. |
|
|
|
Functioning of the Bar Association. |
The President of the Republic instructed that consultations that
began with members of the Bar Association on the amendment of the law on the
organization of the legal profession should continue. |
Mar 2017 |
On going |
|
Others |
The
President of the Republic also gave instructions regarding: 1-
The
creation of a Law School for the training of Lawyers and Notaries. 2-
The
recruitment of interpreters specialized in courts, pending the results of the
special recruitment of Anglophone magistrates and registrars. 3
– The continuation, on a transitional basis, of the exercise of duties of
lawyers and notaries, cumulatively in the North West and South West Regions. 4- The preparation of the National Forum on Justice, during which all
the problems raised by lawyers, and many others, will be taken into account. |
|
On going |
|
Authorisation of Lawyers to visit their clients detained in a Police Station or Gendarmerie Brigade |
-Article 118 of the Criminal Procedure Code provides the freedom to
all detainees to be visited by their lawyers or members of their family. |
|
Complete |
|
Decongestion of prisons
|
During the 2020 Annual meeting of presidents of courts and regional
Delegates of Penitentiary |
2018 |
On-going |
|
|
Administration
to fight against slowness in judicial procedures, it was decided that: 1- Number of questionings should be reduced;
2- Increase of
number of audiences; 3- Drafting of judgments before their
pronouncements; 4- Diligent signing of decisions rendered, 5- Compliance with the legal time limits for
procedure, 6- Regular control of penitentiary
establishments and police custody in the
units, 7- The transfer of prisoners from
overpopulated prisons to others, 8- Increase in the number of penitentiary
staff by 600 thanks to the construction of new prisons. |
|
|
|
Redeployment of Magistrates, Court Registrars and Judicial Police Officers of Frenchspeaking
in the Anglophone Regions based on their mastery of the English Language |
Following
the Higher Judicial Council, many French–speaking Magistrates in the North
West and South West Regions, with poor mastery of the English language and
the Common Law were transferred to the Frenchspeaking Regions. -Appointment
of an English-speaking magistrate at the head of the Judicial Chamber of the
Supreme Court |
Aug. 2020 |
On-going |
|
Training of Englishspeaking Magistrates in Administrative and Accounts Litigation |
During
the training of Judicial Auditors at ENAM, 10 Magistrates of English speaking
were selected to take part. More so, 10 spaces in Administrative Litigation, and 10 in Accounts,
planned for the competitive entrance exam for the special recruitment of
English – speaking Magistrates. |
2020 |
Complete |
|
The Reconstruction of judicial structures destroyed in the North West and South West Regions |
Some reconstruction works have begun in the Bali court House in the
North West, and Tombel court House in the South West Region. |
2019 |
On-going |
II- IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
MAJOR
NATIONAL DIALOGUE
A-INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
|
Recommendation |
Action taken |
Date |
Progress Status |
|
Accelerate Local Governance and Decentralization. |
-Promulgation
of Law 2019/024 on the General Code of Decentralized Local Authorities. -Election
and setting up of Regional Assemblies and Special Status to the SW and NW. -Creation
of the National School of Local Administration and appointment of Officials. -Creation
of the Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development. -Adoption of budgets of Regional Councils |
Dec 2019 Dec 2020 Mar 2020 Mar 2018 Jun 2021 |
Complete Complete Complete Complete Complete |
|
|
-Appointment and installation of Public
Independent Conciliators -Drafting of enabling decrees for the transfer of
powers to Regions. -Allocation
of 30billion francs CFA for the functioning of Regional Councils, pursuant to
instructions of the President of the Republic. -Materialisation
of 15% of State revenue to Regional and Local Authorities -Elaborated,
forwarded and defended the signing of the decree on the transfer of power to
the Regions regarding Youth and Civic education; -Finalization
of specifications for the project on the modalities for the transfer of power
to the Regions concerning youth and civic education; -Transferred 1, 639 191 000 frs cfa to MINDDEVEL for the realization
of MINJEC competencies transferred to it. |
Jun 2021 |
Complete On-going Complete On-going Complete On-going Complete |
|
Promote Bilingualism, and Community Social Cohesion. |
-Creation
of National Commission
for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism. -Enactment of Bilingualism Law. -Enactment of law to punish tribal
Hate Speech. |
Jan 2017 Dec 2019 Dec 2019 |
Complete Complete Complete |
|
|
-Training
on fight against Hate Speech and Xenophobia. -Institution of “Bilingual Day” in some
ministries. -Appointments
of Police Officers to posts of responsibility taking into account cultural
diversity. -Organisation of educational talks with 30 journalists on the
consequences of hate speech on our national peace and security, in
collaboration with EU and MINCOM. -Organisation
of sensitization campaigns in secondary schools, Universities and out of
school to promote civic education and national integration through the
programs “”Citizens and Patriotic returns”. -Organized
a project on the consolidation of peace by the UN -handing of 1,325 installation equipments
to youths; handing over of cheques with 3.5 billion frs cfa to young
beneficiaries of PTS-youth. -Sensitization of local communities to welcome IDPs from NW and SW
Regions -Launch of best photography and graphic presentation competition on
the |
May 2021 Sept 2020 2016 Oct 2020 2017 |
Complete Complete Complete Complete Complete Complete Complete Complete Complete |
|
|
Consequences
of hatred and violence on young people. -Training
of 21 women and 57 girls (IDPs) in the Far North on sewing; 76 women, 78
children and girls, and 44 men on the storage and transformation of cereals
in the Far North Region; -Counting
and supervision of 5,000 IDPs from the NW and SW Regions and training 40
persons in the reception of IDPs; -Creation
4 reception centers (2 for NW and 2 for SW Regions), and providing
psycho-social support to women who are victims of gender-based violence in
the NW and SW Regions. |
Nov 2020 Sept 2021 May 2021 |
Complete Complete Complete |
|
Reconstruction of the Crisis Affected Regions. |
-Creation
and implementation of a Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions. |
Apr 2020 |
On going |
|
Follow up the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Major
National Dialogue. |
Creation of a
Follow-up Committee by
Presidential Decree No. 2020/136. |
Mar 2020 |
On-going |
|
Reintegration of ExCombatants. |
-Creation
of National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration
of Ex- Combatants. |
Nov 2018 |
Complete |
|
|
-Creation
of an inter-ministerial Committee for Preventing and Countering Violent
Extremism. -Reintegration of Ex- Combatants. -Adoption of an operational communication strategy
which includes: website, presence on
social media, broadcasting programmes on television and on radio and through
videoconferencing, producing flyers, making documentaries among others. -Offering psychosocial, spiritual and physical help to repentant
fighters through de-intoxication programmes at the 3 centre in Bamenda, Buea
and Mora. -Contacting
of families of terrorists to persuade them drop arms; -Financing
of youth projects on animal breeding in DDR centers in NW and Far North
(23,000 000 each), SW Regions 21,000 000; -Elaboration of the Moral Rearmament project of excombatants, and
specific mechanism for socio-economic reintegration of in DDR centers. |
Sept 2020 Jan 2019 June 2021 May 2021 |
Complete On-going On-going On-going On-going Complete On-going |
B- SECURITY AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
MEASURES
|
Recommendation |
Actions taken |
Dates |
Progress Status |
|
Release of arrested persons. |
Discontinuance
of proceedings against 333+ persons arrested. |
Oct 2019 |
Complete |
|
Offer of amnesty to repentant combatants. |
Presidential
offer of amnesty to combatants in the North West and South West willing to
drop their arms and join the peace process. -Release of 7018
detainees. |
Sep 2019 April2020 |
On-going Complete |
|
Management of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. |
Setting
up of the Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Plan for the North West and South
West (EHAP-NW/SW). -Issuing
of identification cards and other lost or destroyed documents to IDPs -Distribution
of presidential relief supplies to over 3,000 IDPs and 600 ex-refugees in the
SW. -Social-economic inclusion of 90 IDPs in Adamaoua, Far North, Centre and West
regions; -Financed 106 IDP youth projects in the NW Region (94, 716 389) frs
cfa, and 61 for SW Region for (94, 991 053) frs cfa; -Equipped
3 Multi-media Centres for the Promotion of youths in the North West, and 1 in
the SW Region, (10,000 000) frs cfa each; -Installed
Multi-media Youth Promotion Centres under the program CMPJ-incubator (7, 583 953) frs cfa; |
Jun 2018 Apr 2021 2019 |
On-going On-going On-going Complete |
|
|
-Installation
of 10 youth promoters in pioneer villages (8 in the NWR and 2 in the SWR. -Training
of 2052 women from NWR in ICT, literacy, project management and the manufacturing
of liquid soap; -Training of 1,480 women and girls from the NW and SW Regions
on income-generating activities, -Training of 134 refugees (women and women)
on sewing, small business, breeding and agriculture in Adamaoua region; -Training of 80 needy women in the North West Region on sewing and manufacturing
of antiseptic soap and hand sanitizers, and providing them with 40 sewing
machines. |
|
On-going |
|
Security of inhabitants of crisis affected cities. |
-Operation “Keep Bamenda Clean”. -Maintenance of law
and order -Civilo-military operations in schools, hospitals and markets |
Sept 2020 |
On-going On-going On-going |
C-REPAIR
|
Recommendation |
Action taken |
Dates |
Progress Status |
|
Strengthen bilingualism. |
-Order for the Special Recruitment of 500 Translators
and Translator- Interpreters into
the Public Service. -Bilingual Broadcast of Prime Time Radio Newscast
(5pm-6pm) |
Nov 2019 Jan 2019 |
On-going |
|
|
-Mandatory
use of English and French languages by Cabinet members in all public events -Translation of documents from English to French and vice versa, and
the speaking of English and French by staff of the police during public
security operations |
Jan 2020 |
|
|
Back to school drive. |
-Significant
increase in the number of students going back to school during the opening of
the school year, despite the Covid-19 pandemic. -Setting up of a Special Fund of CFAF 2 billion to private secular
and denominational schools in the NorthWest and South-West Regions. -Free school
enrolment for IDPS. |
Sep 2020 Sep 2017 Sep 2020 |
On-going Complete On-going |
|
Increase
recruitment of English-speaking magistrates and Court Registers. |
-With the Special authorisation of the Head of
State, came the Integration of the first crop of 250 Common Law Magistrates
following deliberations of the Supreme Magistracy Council by Decree N°
2020/430. -150
Court Registers were recruited, and other judicial staff -Training of third batch 2019-2021, fourth batch 2020-2022 and the
result of the fifth batch, 2021-2023 published. |
Aug 2020 |
Complete |
|
Return of traditional rulers to their constituencies. |
Consultations with the Minister of Territorial Administration. - House of Chiefs put in place so as to
get collaboration of traditional rulers for return to normalcy. |
Aug 2020 2021 |
Complete Complete |
D
|
Recommendation |
Action taken |
Date |
Progress Status |
|
Support small business owners in the crisis affected
Regions. |
-Decree
N°2019/3179/PM to grant the status of economic disaster areas to the
Far-North, North-West and South-West Regions. -90
day tax breaks accorded to businesses to assuage the impact of the Covid-19
pandemic on small and medium size enterprises. -Adoption of a refreshed National
Development Strategy SDN30. |
Sep 2019 May 2020 Jan 2021 |
Complete Complete Complete |
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