The November 2011 ordinary session of Cameroon??s National Assembly will be remembered as one during which President Paul Biya spelt out his priorities for the ??Major Accomplishments?? vision for the new seven-year term of office. The session started on November 1 and President Paul Biya took the oath of office on November 3, 2011, following his re-election in the presidential election of October 9, 2011 which he won by a 77.98 per cent. The law governing elections provides that, ??He shall take the oath of office before the people of
Cameroon in the presence of the Members of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Constitutional Council and the Supreme Court meeting in a solemn session.??It is not the swearing-in ritual that makes the November session of the National Assembly historic, but Biya??s inaugural speech in which he called on Cameroonians to work together to transform the country into one in which there is creation and equitable distribution of wealth, equal opportunities for growth and a bouyant economy with sustainable growth. He then announced plans to strengthen the country??s political institutions by putting in place the Senate, complete the decentralisation process by putting in place Regional Councils, the Constitutional Council, reform Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) and build an ??exemplary republic?? by eradicating corruption. President Biya also announced plans for agricultural reforms, dam and thermal plant projects to boost energy supply, economic growth and tackle unemployment.Adoption of BillsCameroon??s draft 2012 State budget that stands at FCFA 2,800 billion voted by the people??s representatives, was drawn up to suit President Biya??s plans to transform Cameroon into a vast construction site, beginning January 2012. The budget to finance the re-introduced development plans, sees an increase of FCFA 229 billion, up from FCFA 2,571 billion in 2011. Capital expenditure in 2012 stands at FCFA 792 billion, up from FCFA 677 billion in 2011.The Finance Bill for 2012 was indeed the most expected bill voted during the November 2011 session of the National Assembly. Seven other bills adopted concern the development of associated gas, fight against trafficking in persons and slavery, settlement bill for the 2010 financial year and the electricity sector. The Members of Parliament also adopted bills to authorise the President of the Republic to ratify the African Union Convention on preventing and combating corruption, the tripartite consultations relating to the International Labour Standard, as well as occupational safety and health and the work environment.Questions For MinistersPrime Minister Philemon Yang was at the National Assembly during two consecutive question time plenary sittings in which he answered questions on the management of the country??s airline company, Cameroon Airlines Corporation (CAMAIR-CO) and the ongoing recruitment of 25 000young certificate holders into the public service. Some cabinet ministers also answered questions in their domains in the two question time plenary sittings. Members of Parliament also had capacity-building training workshops, especially those of the Finance and Budget Committee who had to learn the new budget nomenclature before scrutinising the Finance Bill 2012.The parliamentary session, though ordinary, remains historic for the lucky MPs who witnessed the swearing-in of the Head of State. For some, it may be the last time to vote the budget as there will be parliamentary elections next year before November??s session It was also the firts time that government presented a long-term development budget to ensure a follow up of the « Major Accomplishment » vision of the Head of State.
