SHORT COMINGS OF BIYA'S LAW ON REGIONS

President Paul Biya, of the Republic of Cameroon signed a presidential decree No. 2008/376 recently transforming the country’s ten Provinces into Regions.

But for the districts which have been scrapped the decree states that Cameroon is made up of 10 regions, 58 Divisions and over 300 Sub-divisions with Governors and Senior Divisional Officers all appointed by the President of the Republic to head these administrative units just like in the past. It should be noted here that president Biya, promulgated the law on Regions (Law No. 2004/19 of 22 July 2004) in 2004, making most Cameroonians to be optimistic that they would be spared the trouble of over centralization. That they would have the opportunity to take decisions on those matters that concern their intimate lives.

The Republic of Cameroon with an estimated population of over 23 millions inhabitants saw the putting in place of regions rather than maintaining what has been existing as provinces as to cover or over shadow some wrong doings of the head of state since he still has the powers to appoint and sack the appointed governors.

Contrary to general expectations following the terms to lay down rules applicable to the Nov. 12 presidential decree makes it clear that the new administrative set-up of the country is largely a replica of the status quo, drawing criticism to the fact that the over centralization of power on the Head of State will be a stark reality in the new dispensation.
Consequently Cameroonians have reacted with disappointment following the said presidential decree, indicating that President Biya has moved one step further to carry out cosmetic and half-hearted implementation of decentralization.

Reactions from members of the public and some stake holders described the decree as a harbinger of doom as far as the process of decentralization is concerned. While accusing President Paul Biya of being "a master of legal cosmetics" who uses the law to shield a lot of wrong decisions a civil servant was quoted as saying; "I still see a situation where people will continue to go to Yaoundé to process their documents and chase files. Yaoundé will continue to dictate the pace of events for local development,''

The Law on Regions stipulates in Section 65 that "The President of the regional council shall be the chief executive of the region." With the current decree there will certainly be a tussle of authority and power between the appointed Governor and the elected Regional President.

In order to maintain the concentration of more powers in the hands of the President of the Republic, Article 28 of the decree states emphatically that the Governor and the SDO represent the Head of State in their respective administrative units. The President of the Republic, according to the provisions of the text, has the right to create more Regions, Divisions and Sub-divisions whenever he deems it necessary.

Of course only in a country like Cameroon will the masses condole the practices of a leader who has made himself to looked upon like a demi – god before the persons who put him there. The CPDM whose victories during official elections are always doubted hailed at the idea with all joy and happiness as it gives them a step further to rig more elections come 2011.