The National Assembly of Cameroon Thursday, November 28, 2024, adopted two critical bills that seek to shape local governance and administrative systems.
The bills, debated and adopted during a plenary sitting at the Yaoundé Conference Centre, address key issues in local taxation and the organization of the civil status registration system in Cameroon.
The Bills were defended by the Ministries of Finance as well as Decentralisation and Local Development.
Reform on Local Taxation
The first bill, Bill No. 2064/PJL/AN, seeks to reform Cameroon’s local taxation framework.
Presented as part of broader decentralization efforts, the bill aims to enhance the financial autonomy of local governments by restructuring the mechanisms for revenue generation and distribution.
This Bill was defended by the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze.
Among key provisions of the bill include the harmonization of tax rates.
This establishes standardized rates for local taxes across municipalities to eliminate discrepancies that hinder equitable development.
Digital Tax Collection: Introduces digital tools to streamline tax collection processes, reduce leakage, and improve accountability.
Revenue Redistribution: Ensures that a significant proportion of tax revenues are allocated to local development projects, fostering socio-economic growth at the grassroots level.
During the plenary, Honourable Ndongo Eteme Edgard, General Rapporteur of the Finance and Budget Committee, presented a detailed report highlighting the anticipated benefits of the reform.
Members of Parliament raised concerns about the capacity of municipalities to manage increased financial resources effectively, which the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze, addressed by emphasizing ongoing capacity-building programs for local authorities.
Reorganizing Civil Status Registration
The second bill, Bill No. 2063/PJL/AN, focuses on the reorganization of the civil status registration system.
The reform is critical to addressing inefficiencies and inaccuracies that have plagued the registration of births, marriages, and deaths in Cameroon.
This bill was defended by the Minister of Decentralisation and Local Developments, Georges Elanga Obam.
Highlights of the bill include:
Centralized Data Management: Establishes a national database for civil status records, enabling real-time updates and improved access for citizens.
Digitalization of Services: Introduces electronic registration to reduce delays and eliminate fraudulent practices.
Enhanced Accessibility: Decentralizes registration services to ensure citizens in remote areas can easily access them.
Honourable Ghimbop Joséphine Simo, Rapporteur of the Constitutional Laws Committee, underscored the importance of the bill in modernizing civil status management, a key component of national planning and governance.
Members of Parliament expressed concerns about the security of digital records and the infrastructure needed to implement the reforms.
The Decentralization Minister, Georges Elanga Obam, assured them that significant investments in digital infrastructure and cybersecurity were underway.
Debate and Adoption
The session, chaired by Honourable Kombo Gberi, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, witnessed vibrant discussions as MPs sought clarifications on the implementation strategies for both bills.
Questions ranged from the timeline for digitalization projects to measures ensuring equitable application of the new laws in rural and urban areas.
After thorough deliberations and clarifications, both bills were adopted by the Assembly, signaling a significant legislative achievement.
These reforms are expected to strengthen local governance through enhanced financial independence.
They will also modernize civil status management for better service delivery; and improve transparency and efficiency in public administration.
The bills will now be sent to the Senate, where the legislators are expected to further scrutinize them before adoption or a call for review.
Once adopted at the Upper House, the President of the Republic will promulgate them into law.
Once that is done, the focus will shift to the implementation phase, where stakeholders will work to translate legislative intent into tangible results for the citizens of Cameroon.
