A Member of Parliament from Ndian, in the South West Region, Hon Njume Peter Ambang, has called for better governance in Cameroon, urging President Paul Biya to allow Parliament to play its role.
Hon Njume, who is a member of the governing Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) party, also called for a constitutional review.
He made the comments on the CRTV’s flagship program, Press Hour, this Sunday, November 3, 2024.
The program focused on President Biya’s achievements at the helm of the state for 42 years.
“If I have the opportunity to advise President Paul Biya I will tell him we have to improve on our governance and accountability. The mechanisms for checks are ineffective. The president should allow Parliament play its role,” said Hon Njume Peter.
According to the lawmaker, parliament should be able to hold the government accountable.
His remarks raised concerns on the ability of Cameroon’s Parliament to scrutinize government action and act independently.
Of the legislative body’s 180 members, 152 of them belong to President Biya’s CPDM party, constituting 84 percent of parliamentary seats.
Critics have long raised concerns about the National Assembly’s independence, arguing that the house literally claps through bills tabled by the government.
Through what it calls party discipline, the ruling CPDM party is known for obliging its MPs to approve key policies proposed by the President.
Critics say this has reduced lawmakers to hand clappers as they try to avoid any friction with the executive.
