By Ndi Eugene Ndi
Regional and local council authorities in the North West Region have recommitted to improve their performance and nurture healthier relationships with citizens and users of council services for better service delivery.
They took the commitment in Bamenda on April 3, 2024, during a one-day workshop. The gathering was to present the findings of the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator (PIC) for the North West Region on citizens’ perception of the management of local councils.
The said survey, which permitted the Office of the PIC to report on the functioning of councils in its 2023 Annual Report, disclosed that council executives did not keep proper touch with their populations. This, it observed, created a gap between the councils and the population.
Information gathered from the perception survey was corroborated and enriched with analysis of relevant complaints on the quality of council service delivery. Stakeholders also looked at denunciations brought to the Office of the PIC daily by users of regional and council services.
Work to meet citizen’s expectation
The debriefing workshop was thus an opportunity for the Executive Council of the North West Regional Assembly and Mayors of Councils to know what citizens think about their work. The survey, it was said, gave a general impression that councils in their majority have not been living up to the expectation of citizens.
“Given the overall poor ratings, many councils received from their population, the Public Independent Conciliator, as part of his missions to enhance the effectiveness of councils, resolved to bring this to your attention,” Tamfu Simon Fai, PIC for the North West said at the opening of the workshop.
The PIC for the North West Region further told the authorities that: “With this information, you will certainly work to meet the expectation of your citizens and that is how we can forge ahead with the development of our region”.
As per findings of the survey, some mayors are perceived by their citizens to be running the councils as their private estates to the exclusion of other stakeholders.
The survey suggests that the population of some municipalities wants to see, feel and work with their mayors but is not receiving enough attention from them given their unavailability in their municipalities.
“Since they do not see you, they don’t know what you are doing because reportedly, they are not often informed about council actions. Hence they can’t support you…Even your close collaborators, your councillors as well as your workers are in their majority not also happy with you,” Tamfu Simon told the regional and local council officials as part of the findings contained in the survey.
Season of dialogue, innovative approach in view
During the workshop, the regional and local council authorities of the region were equipped to be more conscious of their relationship with beneficiary populations. They gained deep insights into the public perception of their performance. The goal, it was said, is to enable them to better understand community needs and expectations.
Through open dialogue and exchange of ideas, the regional and local council authorities explored innovative approaches to address challenges and enhance service delivery.
The Regional Executive Council and the mayors were unanimous at the end of the workshop that the survey findings were potent. They also agreed that it will ignite change and improve relations with their beneficiary population.
Led by the President of the North West Regional Assembly Professor Fru Angwafo III, the regional and local council authorities committed to improve their performances and nurture healthier relationships with citizens and users of council services.
The 2023 Annual Report of the PIC for the North West Region was submitted to the President of the Republic on February 8, 2024 and made public on March 5, 2024 in accordance with the law.
Time for positive change to serve population
On behalf of the participants, the Regional President of the United Councils and Cities of Cameroon, (UCCC), for the North West, who also doubles as the Mayor of the Fundong Council, Denis Awoh Ndang said they are bound to make positive change. He promised that they will adjust their functioning to meet the expectation of the population.
“I believe them when they say they will henceforth be committed to nurturing healthier relationships with citizens and users of council services. We expect them to become more transparent and accountable as duty bearers in the delivery of services to their population,” an elated Tamfu Simon told NewsWatch.
The PIC for the North West Region said some of the mayors came to the workshop accusing his office for giving their political opponents a field day. He noted that thanks to awareness on how well or how bad they are doing after facilitators presented the findings of the perception survey, most of the mayors changed.
The debriefing workshop was in line with the watchdog and advisory roles of the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator. Tamfu Simon said they will continue to monitor the effective functioning of regional and council services in the region.
He said the Office of the PIC has been methodical in its approach, beginning with education and sensitization and “today, we are naming and shaming bad practices”.
Break time is over
Should the unorthodox practices continue, Tamfu Simon said, they will be left with no other choice than to use the full length of the powers bestowed on them by the laws in force.
“It will no longer be business as usual. Playtime is over,” Tamfu Simon said of mayors who will not desist from the malpractices exposed in the 2023 survey.
He said they have reminded members of the Regional Executive Council and mayors that they are duty bearers and they have to serve the population of the region by involving them in council activities.
“In fact, we look forward to a day very close when the people will work hand-in-hand with Regional and Council Authorities in protecting, defending and promoting actions of good governance,” the Public Independent Conciliator for the North West Region said.
About the PIC
Established by Law No. 2019/024 of December 24, 2019, the Office of the PIC is the new state institution born out of the Special Status within the context of decentralization.
The independent and impartial authority is mandated to address issues, abuses, and conflicts arising from the functioning of local authorities and decentralized entities, according to Decree No. 2020/773 of December 24, 2020, which lays down the conditions for the discharge of its duties.
First published in NewsWatch newspaper No 173 of Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
