Cameroon: Governors who are due retirement but still enjoying Biya’s largesse – Opinion TGP

Regional Governors play a crucial role in Cameroon’s Unitary State.

Appointed by a presidential decree, they are responsible for ensuring the implementation of government actions and reporting on the general mood and conditions of their respective Regions to Yaoundé.

Though placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Territorial Administration, MINAT, Governors are answerable to the Presidency, they being “representatives” of the Head of State in their Regions.

They controversially supervise Regional Houses, to illustrate their fledging powers, which, above all ensure, “respect of republican institutions and rule of law”.

President Paul Biya, who they represents and promotes his ideology to the apex in their Regions, given the reluctance of many Cameroonian civil servants to go on retirement, in the decree of July 2020, gratified civil servants, by harmonising the age limit to go on retirement.

By that fiat, all workers in Category A and B will retire at the age of 60 years, while those of Category C and D will retire at 55 years.

The presidential spinners noted that: “This salutary measure is a welcome and soothing news for civil servants; irrespective of their profession. The enormous economic and social benefits of this timely presidential act will trickle down to all corners of the country and are another milestone in the march of Cameroon towards
emergence by 2035″.

By that decree, some civil servants in the dregs of public service retire at 55. Governors, like other civil servants like doctors, nurses, teachers, journalists, and engineers, retire at 60, for deserved rest.

The paradox, however, is that President Paul Biya, who preaches respect for the rule of law and “republican institutions” in every given situation, is himself not setting an admirable example.

At least eight of the country’s current ten Governors are above the age of 60. They are not politicians or entrepreneurs who have no retirement age limits.

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