The National Committee of Local Finances (CONAFIL) this 14th March 2024, adopted their 2024 plan of action at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel, chaired by Georges Elanga Obam, Minister of Decentralization and Local Development and cumulatively President of CONAFIL.
Members of CONAFIL took the resolution to enable decentralized territories to have financial autonomy by following up for the transfer of 15% of state budget to local Councils and Regions, the timely disbursement of financial resources to local and regional councils and the allocation of funds for the recycling and disposal of waste. For the year 2024, seventy seven billion francs shall be set aside for waste management . The amount shall be partitioned such that five billion frs would be dedicated to waste collection and recycling to the Councils and Regions monthly.
Members of CONAFIL generally took the commitment to ensure the effective transfer of resources to regions, city councils and councils in Cameroon. The session was attended by members of the National Committee of Local Finances with it’s technical Secretariat.
It was the first session of the 2024 financial year to set the path straight with decisions, deliberations and resolutions. Speaking during the session, Minister Georges Elanga Obam, said the National Committee for Local Finances must remain active in monitoring the preparation of application instruments, for effective and efficient implementation of reforms. He said CONAFIL will have to redouble its strength, in order to allow the financial lever to fully play its role for a healthy and successful execution of the policy of decentralization and local development.
Among many other issues, CONAFIL members reflected on ways to modernize finance management, examined financial operations and investment costs resulting from the transfers of skills to municipalities, urban communities, and regions. They also scrutinized the issue of equitable distribution of resources to decentralized public institutions and sought ways for the regular and timely provision of resources to local authorities.
They went ahead to evaluate the level of proceeds from taxes for the benefit of decentralized local authorities, the transfer of financial and material resources to local communities and local tax reforms.
With the rise in the activities of Regional Councils, CONAFIL is required to take up the challenge of completing a successful emergence within the decentralization system, the transfer of skills, the gradual establishment of the respective administrations, ensure best practices at new public entities and ensure quality financial management.
By Mildred Ndum Wung