Senate commends Biya for victories against Boko Haram

The Senate has felicitated President Paul Biya and the military for victories recorded against Boko Haram insurgents in the Far North Region.

Speaking yesterday, November 12, 2014, at the Yaounde Conference Centre at the reopening of the House, Senate President, Marcel Niat Njifenji, said President Biya’s recent restructuring of the military and allocation of adequate resources had largely contributed to the victories.

While paying homage to soldiers who have lost their lives in the defence of national territorial integrity and their families, the Senate President also commended the Head of State for recently ensuring the safe release of Cameroonians and foreigners taken captive by Boko Haram.

He noted that President Paul Biya’s personal involvement in the organisation the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, CPA Conference in Yaounde last September, ensured its resounding success.

Concerning the 2015 Appropriation Bill that will be discussed by the Senate, Marcel Niat Njifenji, called for the allocation of adequate resources to enable the President’s Greater Accomplishments policy succeed.

The Senate leader appreciated the assistance given by Prime Minister Philemon Yang and his government for the overall success of the Greater Accomplishments policy, noting that international economic indicators were encouraging for now. He appealed to senators to continue being responsible in their utterances in spite of their party leaning as the country faces challenging times.

Attended by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang, cabinet ministers, foreign diplomats and other national and international dignitaries, the opening of Senate was an occasion to pay homage to the departed.

A minute’s silence was therefore observed in memory of Mrs. Rosette Mboutchouang, mother of First Lady, Mrs. Chantal Biya, and Mayor of Bangou in the Upper Plateau Division of the West Region, who died last month.

Others included Senator Francis Nkwain who will be buried this weekend in Njinikom, Boyo Division of the North West Region, and the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Dr William Shija, who died last September.

Activities carried out by the Senate or its members since the last session in June 2014, it was recalled, include the hosting of the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, participation in workshops on budget monitoring, human rights, programme bugetting and the Inter-parliamentary Union General Assembly session in Geneva, Switzerland last September.

Senators of the Centre Region visited the 10 divisions to explain their activities and the decentralization process, while the Senate President received Cameroonian-born Martin Chungong, the newly elected Secretary General of the Inter-parliamentary Union, IPU.