Councilors unite to fight for their salaries

The Association of North West Councilors (ANWEC) met with their counterparts of South West last (Association of South West Councilors (ASWEC) Sunday, June 8 in Buea to examine issues plaguing the smooth running of their duties on a daily basis. Top on the agenda was the delay in paying salaries to Mayors as well as stipends to councilors.
    According to information gathered at the conclave in Buea, the councilors learnt that of all Francophone countries in Africa, it is Cameroon alone that does not value the grassroots leaders, in our case, the councilors. They examined the circumstances and challenges that councilors face on a day to day basis and concluded that it is inhumane and heartless for the state of Cameroon to have not yet started paying her councilors.
    Taking the case study of Senators who were voted by these very councilors, the councilors held that it was atypical for councilors to have the power of voting Senators into office, yet remain beggars while the senators suddenly start sailing at the top of the world with  huge salaries.
    They noted as well that the councilor is with the population, the citizens and the local community every minute, every hour, every day facing all the problems and carrying them to appropriate quarters for possible solutions. Yet, the Senator, who was elected by this  councilor, is enjoying himself in some luxurious hotel in Yaoundé, swimming in some epicurean life style, and at the end of the month, earns over a million francs, with other huge fringe benefits. At the end of the conclave, Councilor Yembe Martin Fon, who doubles as the 1st Deputy mayor of Ndu Council, and a former Chairman of the Council’s Commission of a certain leading political party in the north
    West was tasked to harness ideas from both ANWEC and ASWEC that will culminate in a massive move to see this nightmare buried once and for all. Mr. Yembe was as well commissioned to organize another conclave in Bamenda in the days ahead that will bring together representatives of all the councils in the North West and the South West. At the  forth-coming meeting, ANWEC and ASWEC will evaluate the progress of things as concerns the payment of salaries to mayors and stipends to councilors as well as examining the role of the administration in the  encumbrances or progress of council activities.
    It should be noted that other councilors from Penja like Fongoh Wilson and Djeutem Jean were present at the meeting of North West and South West Councilors. At the end of the conclave, it was unanimously agreed that the problems of councilors will no more be left in the cooler but put on permanent heat for the good of the communities the are called upon  to serve on a daily basis.
    Closing the conclave, Mr. Yembe, the Interim president of  ANWEC promised that he has never failed in his missions and assignments, which always harp on three principles: to do what is good, just and right, and called on all the councilors of Cameroon to join ANWEX and ASWEC to see to the betterment of the social welfare of our communities and citizens. He held that there is this wrong and misleading concept that Cameroon is Yaoundé or the Regional capitals, while the bulk of the citizens and their problems are at the base with the councils.
    It should be noted that ANWEC and ASWEC were formed on the advise of the organizers of the February/March training sessions organized by MINAT-D and MINFI  for all Mayors and First Deputy mayors of all the councils in the country. The other Region that has an organized structure of councilors is the West Region with their Association de Conseilleur de l’Ouest (ASCO). It should be recalled that in the last March session of parliament, the Minister of State for territorial Administration, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, told the people’s representatives, the MPs that all has been finalized to see to it that Mayors start receiving their due salaries (including arrears). Many thought that before this June session kicks off, the deal would have been done, but no one is saying anything, reason why these councilors are mobilizing to do whatever it takes to see to the implementation of the decision  before this June runs out.