By Fai Cassian Ndi (The Eye)
The fear that MPs may stage a boycott at the Cameroon National Assembly
looms large. According information filtering into our newsroom an atmosphere of
uncertainty and suspicion looms over the fate of House Speaker who is being
accused of financial mismanagement by his colleagues. A Presidential insider
however hinted that President Biya is on the alert over the financial scandal
tearing the Cameroon National Assembly apart. An authoritative voice also hinted
this reporter that Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril is on a hot seat given
that allegations of financial mismanagement have been denounced by backbenchers
at the National Assembly. One of the MPs names withheld hinted that the
vagueness in the financial management by the President of the National Assembly
and his Bureau is however a disastrous one. According to the hint it is alleged
that government allocated 500 million FCFA for MPs to maintain their cars
during this period that their mandates were extended. Yet the Bureau of the
National Assembly allocated a total of 47.1 million FCFA to 157 MPs. The MPs
are aghast that 23 MPs who make up the Bureau chopped 453 million FCFA with the
blessings of House Speaker Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril. The Eye is aware that
tracts were circulated at the National Assembly denouncing the obnoxious
mismanagement act by the 23 members of the Bureau.
Classified sources hinted that MPs non-members of the Bureau are
threatening to boycott the session if the situation is not redressed. Another source
hinted that elements of the judicial police were spotted at the National
Assembly yesterday yet the outcome of the investigation has not been made
public. More so, the MPs are also raising hell on the lateness of the micro
project money. Besides, it is even alleged that some of them have not yet
received their salaries.
It is even alleged that the police were acting on instructions from the
head of state that is bent to uncover the truth. “We are very angry right now,
and we are asking that for justice” one MP told this reporter on phone. It
should be recalled that some years ago, MPs staged a silent demonstration on
the controversy surrounding the condition of car loan. It is alleged that in
the past, backbenchers used to pay back car loans whereas members of the Bureau
did not. The injustice resulted to an uprising within the house and the matter
was settled to the benefit of all. Since then, car loans are non-reimbursable
to all the MPs. In fact our MPs have been behaving like the ugly bird, Eagle.
It is widely acknowledged that the Eagle is the only bird in the
bird kingdom that sheds tears! It does this only when it’s renewing its youth
on rocky hidden altar somewhere on mountains! Our Parliamentarians are like the
Eagle because they only shed tears when their interest in at risk. If the
Cameroon National Assembly has been tagged a rubber stamp, it is not by mistake
because whenever their interest is protected, they always play the ostrich by
staging some dramatized acts infront of TV cameras and journalists. When a
proposal was made for the extension of their mandates for six months they all
applauded. When proposals were made for them to pay a deposit fee of FCFA 5
million, they took Cameroonians as witnesses that government wants to sell the
country to conmen. And for their interest, they all stood against the proposed
article that once an MP is dismissed from the party, he or she should
automatically give up the seat at the National Assembly. Whenever they smile
anything that could juxtapose their interest, they sometimes make a lot of
noise but when they are fine, there is silence.
Concerning
the bill on electoral code they only fought to make sure their own interest was
protected. Their interest according to what we gathered is centered on money
and how much enters their pockets. It is even alleged every MP that voted for
or against the Electoral Code received at least FCFA 5 million while Members of
the Bureau had between FCFA 10 million and FCFA 30 million for the speaker.
While Cameroonians have been wondering whether their MPs too cannot fight as it
is being done in other places, sources linked to the National Assembly has
hinted that such a scenario can never take place because the MPs have been
spoiled by huge salaries and advantages that the public is not aware of.
How
Government has Spoiled MPs
With
FCFA 8 million non-refundable car loans and a sitting allowance of 1.2 million
per session awarded to each Member of Parliament and an additional FCFA 900,000
to FCFA1.3 million per month as salaries, there is every reason for MPs to
think of themselves first before the people they represent. Yet reliable
sources say the backbenchers (hand clappers) have a net salary of FCFA 900,000
per month, as too low from FCFA 500.000.
Being
a member of the Bureau of the National Assembly is a super job. The advantages
numbers and attached to it is a super salary. We also learnt that all MPs
however, are not housed in the same boat. Those who were lucky to pick positions
into the Bureau including Parliamentary group executives sometimes receive up
to double the salary of backbenchers, as well as various advantages, such as a
free mansion, drivers, guards, cars, entertainment expenses, telephone, water,
petrol vouchers, house-helps (in short seven house helps) etc.
This
avalanche of membership benefits according to what we gathered exploded in 2007
with the decision by the National Assembly to increase funding for vehicles and
maintenance. Thanks to two Orders signed in September 11, 2007, the speaker of
the National Assembly, Hon. Djibril Cavaye Yeguie, increased premiums for the
purchase of official cars for bureau members. It was, after this text that the
President of the National Assembly started allocating a non-refundable car loan
to MPs.
Our
investigation further revealed that before then, only Bureau members and Group
leaders had non-refundable car loan. Thank God, young MPs from the North Region
revealed to other backbenchers and a revolt was organized. Like the Eagle, the
protest took place in hiding. Note that within 5 years (mandate), the Speaker
of the National Assembly gets as much as FCFA 60 million from non-refundable
car loan scheme while the 1st Vice president now receives FCFA 50 million
non-refundable. The remaining vice Presidents FCFA 45 million each, the
Quaestors FCFA 40 million and the secretaries’ FCFA 35 million each. The
Secretaries on the other hand also receives FCFA 40 million. Each of these
recipients get from the third year of the current legislature two-thirds of the
amount for the maintenance of the car purchased. That is fantastic!
Faced
with such generosity, they have nothing to protect more than their own interest
reasons why those who think that they could one day witness boxing at the
national assembly will never live such a scenario. It is to protect these
numerous advantages that they hang on party allegiance to mock at Cameroonians
or close their eyes to vote bills without looking back at the people who voted
them to Parliament. In addition, each MP also receives a sitting allowance of
about FCFA 1.2 million for each session. Since there are three sessions each
year, MP will receive at least make FCFA 3.6 million per year excluding
extraordinary sessions. The amount increases when there are extraordinary
sessions. These adjustments have never been given publicity ever since they
became effective in 2008, probable because like the Eagle, they keep it secret
to reassure the public they deal with their problems.
At
the close of the last session, pay vouchers of our MPs are great people. The
least the hand clappers received as salary was FCFA 899,000 while the least for
Bureau members was FCFA 1,300,000. That is why there is no pressure from MPs on
government for salaries of civil servants. Notwithstanding, they also console
themselves with the eight million micro project money they receive yearly.
During their five years in office they get 40 million each, ostensibly to
finance micro-projects for the benefit of people. In truth, these funds,
although in principle under control are used as pocket allowances for leisure
in beer parlors, snack bars and restaurants. Indeed, no member has ever denied
this kitty, even though people complain of not seeing the trace on the ground.
“Too little, our needs are enormous,” retorted the elect. The most intriguing
thing is that the very MPs are designated to follow up whether the money was
used properly. How can you send a thief on another?
“MPs are not there to implement projects,
which is the role of the executive. Their role is to monitor budget performance
and vote bills” yet the National Assembly of Cameroon is filled with goats in
sheep clothing.
Some
MPs spend time to go on missions abroad to make money while a majority usually
transfer their constituencies to Yaounde once elected.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa
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