I’ll champion fight for Mayors’ salaries - SW Mayors’ President

Patrick Aboko, third-term mayor of Kumbo Abedimo Council in the Bakassi Peninsular and graduate from the Local Government Training Centre (CEFAM) has been elected president of the South West Bureau of the United Councils nd Cities of Cameroon, UCCC.

Aboko was elected last September 8, together with other members of his executive to manage the affairs of the UCCC in the South West for the next five years.

Shortly after his election, Aboko said he will champion the fight for mayors to have their salaries. He argues that because all other elected officials – Senators and Members of the National Assembly- have a salary, mayors should also have theirs.

Aboko said “…the major preoccupation that our bureau will clamour for will be the long-awaited salaries for mayors of the republic of Cameroon which process is on-going”.

This renewed zeal by mayors’ to fight for their salaries comes after Rene Emmanuel Sadi, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation has promised on March 28, 2014 that mayor’s and their deputies have their salaries in the 2014 budget of his ministry.

Minister Sadi was speaking during the March session of parliament after Hon. Joseph Banadzem, SDF Parliamentary group Leader on why it is taking so long for government to place mayors of its payroll.

Mayors have since not received their salaries even after the Minister promised in parliament that the salaries have been incorporated in the 2014 budget. For now, mayors only rely on their allowances which are calculated based on the administrative accounts of the council.

Francois Soman, Mayor of Pouma and Vice President of the UCCC who coordinated the elections congratulated the mayors of the South West Region for the high level of maturity and democracy portrayed in the conduct of the elections. “I want to register my satisfaction for the high level of democracy you have shown. I urge you of the new bureau to look for an office for the South West Bureau of the UCCC. We’ll equip the office. We as mayors are civil and should not work informally,” Soman said.

The executive bureau of the UCCC for the South West is said to have been moderated by Buea mayor, Patrick Ekema after long hours of political negotiations.

Mayor Ekema denied calls to start as president, noting that it was unacceptable for another Fako mayor to hold the office. He called for inclusion within the UCCC, urging all to throw their weight behind the Aboko-led bureau.

Ayuk Takunchong of Mamfe who lost the bid to head South West UCCC conceded, but was appointed together with Caroline Effiom of Isangele Council to accompany the bureau members to the UCCC National Elections in Yaoundé.

The divisional bureau were also set up prior to Aboko’s election.

The executive includes the following mayors: President Aboko Patrick (Kumbo Abedimo)
Vice President Patrick Ekema (Buea)
Secretary General Chief Ekong William Sakwe (Mbonge)
Assistant S.G. Tong George (Nguti)
Treasurer Nengo Ketu (Wabane)
1st auditor Abel Ebako (Kumba I)
2nd auditor Elizabeth Isselle (Mundemba)
Adviser Duncan Molindo (Limbe II)