By DOH JAMES SONKEY IN YAOUNDE
A bill to restructure and empower the Economic and Social Council of Cameroon has been adopted in Cameroon Parliament in order to enable the structure play a major role in national life. According to the bill registered at the National Assembly under No 1007/PJ/AN to lay down the powers, organization and functioning of the Economic and Social Council, a copy of which The SUN procured, it is said that out of the 150 members provided for by the law in force, the Economic and Social Council was merely limping with only 6 members and extremely limited administrative and technical staff strength.
Explaining innovations in the bill at a plenary, the Chairperson of the Committee on Constitutional Laws, Human Rights and Freedoms, Justice, Legislation and Standing Orders, Administration, Hon Zondol Hersesse said “the bill introduces the issue of the environment and sustainable development into the powers of the Economic and Social Council enabling it like similar structures in other countries to draw as and when necessary, the attention of the President of the Republic or government to reforms that it deems necessary within its sphere of competence.”
The new bill stipulates that the Economic and Social Council is compulsorily consulted on bills regarding national economic, social or environmental programmes or plans with the exception of the finance bill.
Sections 8 and 16 of the bill stipulate that the Chair of the council is appointed by the President of the Republic and the council is additionally composed of 150 members of Cameroonian nationality appointed for a 5-years mandate renewable once. It is equally explained that apart from the Chairperson and the Secretary General of the Council who receive a monthly salary or sundry benefits laid down by Presidential Decree, the other members are paid a session allowance and may be entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses arising from sessions, upon presentation of supported documents.
To enable the Economic and Social Council fully play a major role, it has three main organs; the Plenary Assembly that is the deliberative body composed of all the members and holds three sessions per year, the Council Bureau chaired also by the President of the Economic and Social Council and also comprises two vice presidents, three Secretaries, two Questors, Committee Chairpersons and the Secretary General and lastly, Specialized Committees composed of representatives of each of trade categories (economy, social, employment, education, health, culture, sports, scientific and technical research, press, environment and sustainable development, ICTs, industry, trade and handicraft, agriculture, livestock, fisheries and forestry, banking and credit, trade unions, family associations, women and youth empowerment movements and liberal professions)
Article 33 Section 1 says appropriations required for the functioning of the council shall be charged to the state budget.
However, the Economic and Social Council was greatly criticized by some MPs of the opposition party including Hon. Fusi Namukong who in a later chat with a private TV station wondered why the body has been budgeted FCFA 2Bn yearly for the past 30 years when it has got only six members and there is nothing visible to show for their activities. The MP bluntly called the body a scam and a network for embezzlement of state funds.