Decentralisation - FCFA 138 Billion for Transfer in 2013

Over 20 ministries are transferring powers and accompanying resources totaling FCFA 138 billion to local and City Councils in Cameroon this year, 2013 within the framework of the on going decentralization process in the country. The Permanent Secretary of the National Decentralisation Board, Appolinaire Penda made the declaration in Yaounde yesterday, February 19, 2013 at the end of the first board meeting for this year held at the Star Building chaired by Prime Minister Philemon Yang.

Finance Minister Ousmane Alamine Mey disclosed after the meeting that FCFA 7.5 billion will be disbursed in 2013 as the Common Decentralisation Fund. FCFA 5 billion will serve as the running cost and FCFA 2.5 billion will be for investment. He said this was the same amount disbursed in 2012. "Over the last three years, FCFA 382 billion has been transferred to local and City Councils within the decentralization process," the Minister said. He assured that the resources will be disbursed for the ongoing 2013 fiscal year in time.

The effective devolution of powers and resources to Cameroon's 360 local councils and 14 City Councils started in 2010 with nine ministries concerned. Between 2010 and 2012, the State disbursed FCFA 382 billion as accompanying resources to devolved powers.

The February 19, 2013 session of the National Decentralisation Board, its Permanent Secretary said was partly devoted to evaluating the path covered in the decentralization process. This, he explained, was because the municipal councillors who started implementing effective devolution of powers are almost at the end of their term of office. The Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisaion who is Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee on Local Services during the session, presented a draft decree on the sharing out of the Common Decentralisation Fund for 2013, while other ministers presented papers on the powers and resources their ministries are transferring in 2013.