Governors Meet As Biya Sets To Appoint New SDOs Momo, D/M, Menchum, Manyu, Others Expect New Faces

By Yussuf Sariki

With the absence of elections, Administrative officers have other burning issues which they handle. Last July 25, all ten regional governors were in conclave in Yaounde for their first semester conference for 2012. This was an opportunity for Rene Emmanuel Sadi, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization MINATD to urge his collaborators to put hands on deck in accelerating sustainable development projects. The meeting was held in Yaounde, at a time all the newly appointed and transferred governors had acquainted themselves with their respective terrains. A few months after that presidential decree appointing regional governor, Chronicle learnt from a presidential insider that another decree for the appointment of Senior Divisional Officers, SDOs is in the offing.

Three of the present governors were SDOs. By implications, three out of the 37 divisions operate without SDOs. Awa Fonka Augustine, Far North Governor was SDO for Mbam et Kim; Bernard Okalia Bilai of the South West was SDO for Wouri; Midjiyawa Bakary of the West was SDO for Mayor Rey while Otto Joseph Wilson was a cadre at MINATD.

Several SDOs too are already overdued retirement. In the North West Region, the SDO for Momo (Ndame Moundourou Isaac), just as his counterpart of Donga/Mantung (Nzeke Theophile) and Menchum (Mamouda Haman) would be retired in the upcoming decree.

In the South West Region, SDOs tipped to be retired include Simou Kamsu Patrick of Manyu, Koulbout Aman David of Meme and Amougou Francois of Lebialem. The appointment of SDOs would be an opportunity for Divisional Officers, who have been catapulted to the rank of Senior Administrative Officers, to be upgraded to SDOs.

Apart from the retirement of some new SDOs, others would be transferred. The wish of the people of Boyo division is to see the transfer of David Embe, their SDO. He is criticized for residing in Bamenda and only visits Fundong headquarters of Boyo. For the Mezam SDO, Mache Njoungwet Joseph Bertrand so far has no skeleton, yet, he is tipped for transfer, while the Ngoketunjia SDO, Kwella Valery may not be very popular within his division.

Meanwhile, the Governor’s conclave which ended last Friday saw all 10 regional governors well schooled on a panoply of subjects. Held under the theme, “Administrative Authorities and the putting in place of development projects”, many expressed the fact that it was timely, moreso as it reflected the Head of State’s vision for 2035.

For 3 days, the governors were drilled on issues related to them. The Minister of Finance presented a paper on “Results-based management budget (programme budget); while the Minister of Public Health focused on cholera and the distribution of long lasting treated mosquito bed nets.

It was the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Public Contracts, whose presentation touched the hearts of most of the governors. He counseled on the new system of public contracts, a domain administrators have penchant for, given the dividend they derive from the allocation of contracts.

Although the organization of elections have been moved from the hands of the administration, they still have a paramount role to play. With the new registration process to kick-start this September, Elections Cameroon ELECAM, would be privy to acquaint administrative authorities on what the biometric is all about and the entire registration process.

Governors are command personnels, thus head the security situation in each region. Last week’s conclave was to reinforce their roles in enforcing law and order; ensuring peace and security within their respective regions.