Frightened Account Clerk Drops Dead As Control Mission Revisits Past Records

By Ignatius Nji

                     Late Gashu Martin Biya Former Accountant and Successor Fung John

The sudden death of Gashu Martin Biya, out gone Account Clerk of the Regional Hospital Bamenda at 3 am on Monday morning of June 8 2015 has left many in the hospital premises shocked including the Director Dr. Kingue Thompson Njie, as nobody ever knew him as a patient. He was summoned by the Director on Thursday June 4^th  to come and make some clarification on management during his tenure. He came and complained of malaise and was admitted that Thursday afternoon only to die on Monday morning.

According to Fung John,the successor, appointed since December 11, 2014 to take over from Gashu Martin Biya and was only installed and handed over recently, a team of control mission came from Yaoundé to carry out normal State control on the morning of Thursday June 4 2015 and when the team visited his office they asked to call in the out gone Account Clerk to clarify certain management entries. When late Gashu Martin Biya finally came in after a long wait, they exchange pleasantry greetings and the head of mission for the team from Yaounde asked late Gashu Martin Biya to present certain documentations. His countenance suddenly changed and he moved out without a word and went straight in to the Directors office. While there he complained of headache and malaise and the Director carried out vital signs checkup and recommended thorough checkup and rest. Gahsu was already very weak and could not walk to the lap, so the Director called in an attendant to bring in a wheel chair to carry Gashu Martin Biya to the lab. On Friday in spite all medical intervention the situation kept deteriorating. The control team leader told Fung John to visit the patient and try to lift his spirit that the control issue is ok and nothing what to worry about. This was just to coerce him recover from that situation yet it did not help.  On Saturday the situation got worst and was transferred to the reanimation ward and placed on oxygen where he finally gave up the ghost on Monday morning without a word. According to family sources late Gashu Martin Biya in the last 30 years has never gone to a hospital nor grounded by ill health. He was a sports man that drank only water and no alcohol and so had no trace of medical problem before this day.

This office according to the new occupant Fung John, that service has not been controlled since 2007 during the tenure of one Fonge Peter who handed over to Gashu Martin Biya in 2009. The Control mission wanted to peruse only accounts from 2012 to 2014 just to ease work for the out gone. From all indication that office was being managed like a village provision store with no clear cut records of expenditures. This reporter while gathering information as to the dead of the out gone account clerk on Tuesday June 9, some drivers were resisting complying with the new management style which they have to place a written request for fuel, carwash and repairs.  According to them, they are not used to writing any request all they did was ask for the money and it was disbursed by the account clerk. One of the drivers, Nforgwei Jones charged with requesting for fuel and other lubricants, presented a ledger of his various entries with accompanying signatures of the account clerk saying that was how it was programmed yet some drivers decided to be dealing with the accountant directly without any entries in to this ledger.

This incident is happening at a time when the North West Regional Delegate of public health Dr. Ndiforchu Victor is replaced by Dr. Matilda Manjong former District Medical Officer for Limbe. She is the first female regional delegate to man the public health Delegation in the North West region. She hails from Bafut and married in Bui. Dr. Ndiforchu Victor is going on retirement in spite the rich experience gathered in his working career.

Ndu Councilors Accuse MPs For Being Egoistic On Laws On Allowances, Salaries Of Elected Officials

By Ignatius Nji

Honorable Councilors Deliberating 2014 administrative and management account Session

An automatic 16.5 percent striped off from Councilors’ seating allowance witnessed recently following a new law on taxes stating in clear terms that hence all seating allowances are taxed and collected immediately the Councilors sign to collect their dues at the counters. This news fell like a bomb shell during the belated 2014 administrative, management and stores account session that held last Thursday June 11 at council conference hall supervised by the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Ngone Ndode Mesape Bernard.

When Mayor Bunyuy Emmanuel Nyugab announced to his fellow councilors that a new law has been enacted to tax the meager seating allowance, the friendly looks on their faces disappeared. Councilors started questioning why the Parliamentarians should be so egoistic and would not relent in pressing an increase on their whopping salaries yet would not question or raise any objection on the 16.5 percent cut on seating allowance. According to Martin Fon Yembe, the first deputy mayor who is advocating that councilors be paid salaries, this move by the parliamentarians across the board has just proven their selfish interest. This does not speak well of the lawmakers on whom the grass-root look up to for good laws.

The councilors were further advised by the taxation official to also ensure that they regularize various land tax or else when they would be seeking another mandate at any election the accrued sum shall be cumulatively collected. In as much as councilors already owe two years land tax following the last declaration, it is easier and less burdensome to pay this land tax annually than wait for the last minute to pay all. He said. This further sent chills down their spines given that the councilors had not settled with the issue of 16.5 percent cut on their seating allowance.

Councilors deliberated on the realization of 2014 to ensure that what were recorded are actually what have been realized in the field. From the presentation there was a clear distinction of council projects executed and those coming from the central administration to jumbling up the projects. Under the council executed projects, a good number of roads were graded and culverts constructed, market sheds constructed, Installed solar street lamps, Fenced the grandstand and gave a face lift to the council chambers, acquired a tricycle to evacuate refuse, Completed feasibility studies to set up (a) a municipal radio (b) portable and irrigation water for Ndu (c) tarring of some main streets (d) set up municipal ranch (e) set up a poultry and (d) a water bottling plant. To revamp the gradual lose of the culture of the people an economic and cultural forum was organized. Some 100 students had holiday jobs and 200 students equally had scholarship and 30 volunteers support staff were engaged in to basic education. On the Public investment budget projects executed were; road maintenance, bridge constructed, four classrooms were constructed, rehabilitation of classrooms took place in five villages, water sources in Talla and Sehna were rehabilitated and some 5000 trees planted at water catchments, 60 benches and pedagogic materials were supplied to government primary schools. On sanitation and hygiene which became topical during deliberation, the Mayor called on the population to foster the culture of hand washing given that for a start some water troughs have been installed on the main street in the Ndu town and that each household should possess a waste bag or a basket for easy disposal of these refuse. The councilors were charged to sensitize the population on changing habits and to ensure that a clean and safe environment in the order of day in Ndu municipality. On the over all the Councilors deliberated and adopted the 2014 administrative and management account that stood at FCFA 389.7 million in revenue and FCFA 385.5 million in expenditure with a balance carried forward of FCFA 4.2 million.

….More Credits Are Getting To Councils Though Not Enough-Mayor Nkambe

By Ignatius Nji

               Honorable Councilors Deliberating the 2014 Administrative and Management Session

With the devolved powers transferred from government ministries to the councils following the decentralization process, the Mayor of Nkambe Council, Ngabir Paul Bantar says, many more funds are getting to the councils though not enough. These not withstanding, some ministries are still feet dragging to transfer both resources and executing powers to the local councils. Speaking during the 2014 administrative and management account for Nkambe Council, the Mayor declared that revenue witnessed a leap from FCFA318 million in 2013 to FCFA 569.4 million and expenditure in investment and recurrent stood at FCFA 562.1 million with a surplus of FCFA 7.3million carried forward.

Though the financial situation according to Mayor Ngabir, has moved upscale, the finance committee of the council headed by Musa Shey Nfor, thinks that many are more explored avenues generate revenue within the municipality. The finance committee head applauded the Mayor for exploring taxable activities in the municipality. Income generated for renting out the community hall moved from FCFA30.000 to over FCFA 800000 and the slaughter slap was able to generate over FCFA 450000 up from FCFA 52000. More so 2014 did not witness any cash deficit as was the case in 2013. Councilors were called upon to be part of revenue collection by way of frequent sensitization on the importance of paying taxes.

Councilors scrutinized reports of projects realized and recorded in 2014 and in the health sector an equipped health center was constructed in Chup. PNDP sponsored project so the construction of water in three government primary schools and ardorate. A borehole at GHS Binka and a toilet at the rehabilitated council community hall were realized. In the education sector, didactic materials were distributed to primary schools, classroom constructed in GS Nalla-Mbot, equipped the head teacher’s office and 60 benches. To boost economic activities in the municipality, open market sheds were constructed in Tabenken, Binka, Mayo-Binka and Wat. Road maintenance and construction of culverts with some solar street lamps were mounted in Nkambe town and Moh village though some vandals damaged one at Faraday junction on the 26^th of May when SDF was celebrating the party’s anniversary. Investigations are underway to track down the culprit of that act. The Town hall which yet to be occupied for lack of electricity and water was equipped though plans are underway to provide a borehole to generate both electricity and water by solar energy and staff salaries were prompt and partially paid the social insurance dues and further more staff was sufficiently motivated with material during the labour and women’s day celebration. MINEPIA donated a tricycle and PNDP made available motorcycle Yamaha AG. The Mayor did announce that Councilors shall be trained in the days ahead to empower them on council activities. To effectively handle road maintenance and grading in the municipality, the Mayor says there is urgent need for a front loader.

After the heated debate by councilors seeking clarification as to the management of the council, the Mayor thanked the councilors for the frankness in questioning his management which only goes to demonstrate their concern for the municipality. On his part the supervisory authority did applaud the councilors for honest deliberation and prays that this spirit should be the order of day in all council deliberations bringing in positive contributions. On security the SDO said it requires collective effort to maintain security in the Division and that nobody should relent in denouncing any suspicious activity to the law enforcement officers. He lauded the Mayor in his effort to demarcate council land given that the government has asked the his administration to secure 100.000 hectares of land for agriculture, 50.000 hectares for industries and 10.000 hectares for low cost housing in Donga Mantung Division.

“We can not build Misaje Council by Painting It Black to the World….”-Mayor

By Ignatius Nji

                                         Mayor Sammy Mgbata Of Misaje Council

In a bid to state clearly some of the major challenges he is facing as Mayor of Misaje, Sammy Mgbata on the third paragraph of his opening address during the 2014 administrative and management account that took place on Monday June 15 reiterated that speed brakes to all his effort to speed up the development of the municipality unfortunately are some councilors who still nursing grudges upon his being elected mayor after 2013 municipal election. He pulsated that in as much as it is incumbent of all councilors to criticize his management which in a way is to spur him to better performance in output, the mayor observed that a handful of them are authors of vicious calumny in spite his incessant appeals for love and work in synergy. According to Mayor  Sammy Mgbata, these persons do not have the common good of the municipality at heart rather are being egocentric. Hear him, “…It has been proven that most of the time some Councilors go to Bamenda for their salaries at month end, do carry with them slanders for publication by Journalists. Even damages in the council caused by some of them are shamelessly attributed to me as if they believe that I am not knowledgeable enough to refute and redirect them to their malicious creators….” Former Mayor Nkenda Simon who happens to head the supposed disgruntled councilors did express their openness to dialogue with the seating Mayor but unfortunately some drummers are in the bush hampering any peaceful agenda probably reaping from it. He called on the seating Mayor Sammy Mgbata not to keep preaching peace yet listening to diabolic music of war from the shadows. The Mayor should be seen to work for peace by taking his responsibility towards reconciling the councilors for a better working environment in the interest of Misaje council for if he fails at the head we all have failed as councilors. He said. .

In response to a publication in the Press where he was accused for not paying workers salary in eight months, the Mayor was categorical that he came in and inherited a huge debt with those salary arrears inclusive and so far he is paying those debts and has tried to pay four months hoping that in the near future the other four months would be cleared. Another aspect mentioned was that some Councilors are discouraging taxpayers from paying in their taxes to the council which in a way is to sabotage activities in the municipality. As a warning to recalcitrant workers who have lost focus in the exercise of their functions, the Mayor reminded them thus, “…Some workers deceive themselves that since they campaigned for the CPDM to win the council, I can not punish them for what ever crimes they commit. I tell them that nobody in this council with me inclusive is more CPDM than the Ministers who are suffocating in Prison for having acted adversely. For no political lineage would cease the hammer from me against workers working out of the ambit of the law.” The issue as to which salary classification the Misaje council was using given that other councils are paying using the new salary scale with minimum wage of FCFA 36000. The Mayor tried to make excuses that he was working with the 2008 classification, based on the advice of the Divisional Delegate of Labour and Social security. The Supervisory authority stepped in and cautioned him against demoralizing his workers by not using the present classification on salary as is the case in other councils. Mr. Ngone Ndode Mesape SDO encouraged the Mayor to start paying using the present barim and should in case in the future it is realized that workers were unduly or over paid, these sums would be automatically stripped from their salaries.

During deliberation the Councilors scrutinized the reports on projects executed by the council and those from central administration realized in the municipality. The 2014 budget realization spread in the domain of education, health and social activities. From a projected budget of FCFA 173.9million the council ended up with a whooping additional that rocketed it to FCFA 534.2million. Revenue stood at FCFA 362.2 million and expenditure stood at 343.9million though local collectivity witnessed a drastic drop from 17.2% in 2013 to 6.2%. In all the council witness a 67.8% rise in the  rate of realization comparatively to 36.6% in 2013.

Vocational Training Way Out For Vision 2035

By Ignatius Nji

                                               Interior Design Workshop at CATE Bali

The much propagated vision 2035 expected for Cameroonians to witness emergence can only be realistic when  proper measures are put in place to ensure the expected out come. One of such measures is to encourage vocational training among the youth. In the City of Bamenda trade centers have been transformed in to vocational institutes in line with government determination to encourage professional skills in formal institutes. Most of these vocational training centers found in Bamenda do offer mostly mono courses such as upholstery, motor mechanics, fashion designers, hair dressing saloon etc.

Speaking to Pressmen on Thursday June 25 during an open door day for holiday makers at the center on Savana Street Bali, the liaison officer of the Community Action for Technical Excellence (CATE), Godlove Kobe elaborated on the need for a vocational training even for those who are already running their own little workshops. He revealed that with a library stocked to capacity with over 23000 books with audios, videos and high speed internet pool, this facility is opened to the public for research given that it contents books and machines in various fields. To him these people who could not be trained formally do have a problem with finishing of crafts that can meet international standards.  To sharpen skills he recommends that those already in the market should strive to acquire formal skills in their various fields of operation to add value to their products. With the very highly and sophisticated and equipped vocational institute located in Bali under the blessing of the ministry of employment and vocational training with an authorization to operate, Godlove Kobe holds that the community Action for Technical Excellence (CATE) has the capacity to train people in various domain using the latest hi-tech given that the equipments found at CATE are the latest state of the arts machines in the country today. As an architect in interior designs on wood, glass or iron, Godlove Kobe says he imported this latest technology from the USA having done woodwork and general education in Cameroon.

Talking on his objective, Godlove Kobe says by engaging in the training of professionals in technical fields he wants to join hands with other technicians to contribute to the development of the country and push forth the much cherished vision 2035. He reiterated that before leaving Cameroon for further training abroad he had observed that what the technicians need in the country is hi-tech equipments and knowhow to make maximum use of the natural resources that are abound. He called on the government to put in place enabling environment for such machines to available to stop many from going abroad. At CATE the courses offered for a period of two years are for trainees with ordinary and advance level and those with first school leaving would make an additional year: interior design, fashion design, carpentry and joiner, cabinet making/mill works, sheet metal construction, graphic arts and designing, secretarial duty, computer aided design, software training. The institute also has a library, internet services and a canteen. The center for now can only accommodate 50 trainees in one semester. The institute has been operating now for eight months though its conception was since 2002, the government is yet to make any financial assistance.