It’s exactly two years, when the H.E of State President Paul Biya entrusted the Prime Minister, and Head of Government, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute to organised the Major National Dialogue in Yaounde which ran from September 30- October 4, 2019. At the Yaounde Conference Center.
The event brought together a wide spectrum of our compatriots from local communities and villages, urban agglomerations and the Diaspora at resolving the worries raised by the teachers and common lawyers.
The dialogue took place “within the context of the constitition", hence ruling out Ambazonian independence, and included the Anglophone Cameroonian diaspora. A government website was subsequently launched, where people could submit proposals ahead of the dialogue.
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.
Cross section of Diplomates during conference
In this regard, the following Compendium capture the milestone measures taken by Government immediately when corporate grievances were raised by teachers and lawyers and those engaged after the formulation of recommendations following the successful organisation of the Major National Dialogue.
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 South- West Regions. Francophone lecturers and administrative staff who are not fluent in English were dispatched from the Universities of Bamenda and Buea. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Cross section of participants during conference 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. 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. 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 Restitution of Lawyers’ robes and wigs. Lawyers’ robes and wigs that were seized by the police were effectively handed back. Legal action against law enforcement officers who brutalized lawyers. Prosecution of officers involved in brutalization of lawyers. 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. Creation at ENAM of a Common Law section. The President of the Republic instructed a reorganization of ENAM, to include a Common Law 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. 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 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. The President of the Republic also gave instructions regarding: The creation of a Law School for the training of Lawyers and Notaries. The recruitment of interpreters specialized in courts, pending the results of the special recruitment of Anglophone magistrates and registrars. The continuation, on a transitional basis, of the exercise of duties of lawyers and notaries, cumulatively in the North West and South West Regions. The preparation of the National Forum on Justice, during which all the problems raised by lawyers, and many others, will be taken into account. 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. During the 2020 Annual meeting of presidents of courts and regional Delegates of Penitentiary. Administration to fight against slowness in judicial procedures, it was decided that: Number of questionings should be reduced; Increase of number of audiences; Drafting of judgments before their pronouncements; Diligent signing of decisions rendered, Compliance with the legal time limits for procedure, Regular control of penitentiary establishments and police custody in the units, The transfer of prisoners from overpopulated prisons to others, Increase in the number of penitentiary staff by 600 thanks to the construction of new prisons. Redeploymentof Magistrates, Court Registrars and Judicial Police Officers of French- speaking regions 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 French- speaking Regions. Appointment of an English-speaking magistrate at the head of the Judicial Chamber of the Supreme Court.
Training of English- speaking 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. 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. Implementation of recommendations of the major National Dialogue
Recommendation Action taken 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 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.
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. 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
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. 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. Follow up the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Major National Dialogue. Creation of a Follow-up Committee by Presidential Decree No. 2020/136. Reintegration of Ex- Combatants. Creation of National Committee for Demobilization Reintegration Combatants. Disarmament, and of Ex- 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 ex- combatants, and specific mechanism for socio-economic reintegration of in DDR centers. Security and humanitarian assistance measures
Recommendation Actions taken Dates Progress Status. Release of arrested persons. Discontinuance of proceedings against 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. 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; 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. Security of inhabitants of crisis affected cities. Operation “Keep Bamenda Clean”. Maintenance of law and order -Civilo-military operations in schools, hospitals and markets 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) 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 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 North- West and South-West Regions. Free school enrolment for IDPS.
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.
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.
Economic measures
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 Among others.
From all indications, it shows the government is striving for peace to reinstated, in the North West and South West Regions. Could separatist leaders and fighters give a chance for peace to reign.
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H.E Chief, Joseph Dion Ngute during speaking during conference