MINUTES
OF THE WUM COUNCIL BUDGET SESSION FOR 2019 HELD IN THE WUM COUNCIL TOWN HALL ON
THE 28TH OF DECEMBER 2018.
Members
Present were: 20 (see attendance list attached) Members Absent Were: 5
OPENING:
The council session which
was convened for the examination and adoption of the council draft budget for
2019 started at 11:37am with the singing of the National anthem.
This was followed by a word
of prayer given by Mr, Komnchi Dominic leader of the U.N.D.P party in the
municipality. The latter thanked the almighty father for having made it
possible for the session to hold despite the prevailing socio political
situation. He thanked God for granting travelling mercies to all who were
present and further called on him to place all of them in a receptive frame of
mind granting them the wisdom and understanding in their deliberations.
ROLL
CALL.
The secretary General of
Wum Council Berthy B Cheng Edickson conducted the roll call and 20 Councilors
answered present, four of whom were by proxies, thus a 2/3 quorum was formed.
She then read out the agenda of the day and this was moved correct by councilor
Mendi Stephen and adopted unanimously.
The Lord Mayor explained
the reasons for these proxies but regretted that a few were absent. He
recounted the risk he underwent in order to be present in the session and said
others were not exceptions.
MAYOR’S
WELCOME SPEECH.
Councilor Dighambong
Anthony Mvo, Mayor of Wum Council called for a minute of silence to be observed
on behalf of the fallen brothers and sisters during the Socio Political
upheaval in the North and South West Regions.
He informed his fellow
colleagues that the ministry of decentralization and local development allocated
the sum of One Hundred Million (100,000,000) francs each to Councils for the
execution of projects come 2019. These efforts of MINDEDEVEL were in a bit to
trigger effective decentralization in Cameroon, he concluded by saying the
projects were already identified. He then welcomed members and fellow
Councillors to their annual Rendez-vous most especially the S.D.O of Menchum
Mr. Kamga Charles and his entourage.
He gave a brief account of
their stewardship over the past five (5) years and said ”we have scored the
goals for our mandate, our promises realized, our achievements are visible”.
The chairman informed Councillors that the socio political situation that
plagued the two English speaking regions resulted to a decadence of economic
activities in the Wum municipality reason why he christened the Wum council
2019 budget “The Budget of Economic Development, Relief and Unity in Diversity”. He said the 2019 budget had
witnessed an increase of 12,74% to make
up with what was unable to be accomplished and to also have a realistic and
feasible budget that would serve and meet the aspirations and needs of the
population.
The 2019 draft budget had the following
highlights;
-
The investment expenses stood at 58% more
than the prescribed stipulated 40%
-
Functional expenses 41.19% less than the
prescribed 60% maximum.
-
The personal expenditure stood at 30.82% of
the functional budget again less than the required maximum of 35% of the
functional budget.
Furthermore, he numerated a
list of envisaged projects that the Council would wish to execute gotten from
the annual investment plan drawn out village by village and per their different
ministries. There included
-
Equipment of GS Nyoh with two chairs and two
tables,
-
Construction of two classrooms at GS Nyoh,
-
Supply of 60 benches at GS Nyoh,
-
Financial Support to BIHDUMLEM,
-
Supply of equipments for Local solution to
19 villages
-
Rehabilitation of Court Yard to Waindo road,
-
Construction of a bridge at PK 4.5 on the
GTHS Junction to Kecha,
-
Construction of a bridge at PK 0+ 100 on the
Wanangwen-Ngouh Road Support in the LRAs in the fight against plastic materials
-
Equipment of 200 technical and Veterinary
centre Kesu
-
Construction of 200 technical and Veterinary
centre Kesu
-
Aerial single phase Electrification of Ukpwa
-
SAR/SM Wum, equipping infrastructure in the
vocational Training college,
-
SAR/SM Wum, Construction of a Carpentry
workshop,
-
Rehabilitation of Tsakendze Prince Bilingual
(Kesu) road (2.5Km),
-
Organization of Wum council tournament,
-
Purchase of a second handed grader in Wum
Council
-
Planting of ornamental trees along major
streets in Wum Council area,
-
Opening of gutters from TRADEX to TOTAL
roundabout,
-
Equipment support to vulnerable populations
-
Construction of a metallic culvert between Sir
Wallang's building and the Main Market;
-
Opening of gutters from Morning star to
Kelly Killi (Bu road)
-
Construction of a modern toilet at GS
Itiaku;
-
Extension of Water supply for a distance of
2Km and the construction of 2 stand taps at
-
Tselakeghei;
-
Construction of water source at Waindo;
-
Rehabilitation of a water catchment at Cheregha
overside
-
Extension of Water supply for a distance of
2.5Km and the construction of 3 stand taps Cheregha overside.
-
Rehabilitation of four (04) classrooms in
G.S Agulli
He once more saluted the
devoted, brave and courageous business persons and called on all to practice
the spirit of forgiveness and togetherness quoting that although the eyes don’t
see each other, they see things together, blink simultaneously and cry together.
The Mayor’s speech ended with some mind searching wise sayings, he wished all
in attendance the best, calling on those who could not act to speak and those
who could not speak at least to meditate and pray.
THE
SENIOR DIVISIONAL OFFICER’S SPEECH
The Senior Divisional
Officer for Menchum, Mr. kamga Charles, expressed great pleasure to be part of
the session. While acknowledging the presence of councillors he thank the
chairman to have invited him which was a recognition of the role he plays
vis-a-vis the council and wished everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2019.
He wittily presented a picture of the problems that were plaguing the Wum
council as an institution and the municipality as a whole. At the outset, he
pointed out that the ending year 2018 had not been a good one for Wum council
and the municipality because of the socio political situation that prevailed.
He however, was optimistic of 2019 if peace returns. Talking about the budget,
he appreciated and noted that it was a well prepared budget that experience an
increase despite the unhealthy atmosphere, to him this was glaring of the great
ambitions of the Mayor for the municipality.
He appreciated the fact
that 58.81% of the budget consisted of investment expenses to improve the
living standards of the population especially alleviating the suffering of
victims of the war and 30.82% of the functional budget destined for personnel
expenses.
He expressed great alarm
over what was experienced in 2018 which according to him was something to worry
about. His other worry was that the rate of execution of the investment budget
in Menchum division for 2018 was less than 40% and they were other projects
whose execution had not begun due to the prevailing situation. According to
him, what was important was to know whether the budget would be executed and
the condition for its execution was for peace to reign. He made it known that the
crises are a National issue as well as local.
He felt that so long as the
crises were concern, what was expected of each and everyone in his/her own
little way was bringing the violence to a halt. He castigated in strong terms
the acts of killing, destruction, burnings and rampant arrest of innocent
citizens. He told the assembly that since the outbreak of violence, they had
seen no positive change. To him, a sustainable long lasting solution to the
crisis was primordial. The boss of the division informed the councilors that
the national coordinator of the disarmament commission was appointed with three
regional delegates from Mora, Bamenda, and Buea respectively. The role of that
commission, he said was to take care of everything after fighters had dropped
their weapons and requesting for those guns to be dropped was the role of
everybody. Let us take this message of peace initiation to our brothers. He
said to give the budget a chance for its execution, there should be peace, for
the Mayor cannot execute the budget in an atmosphere of war. He finally called
on the military to stop rampant arrest of civilians and reiterated the
evangelization of peace by all, this was welcomed with applause.
READING
AND ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Considering the fact that
the minutes had been with councilors someday ago and cognizance of the need for
them to be digested, councilors unanimously moved for their adoption. These
minutes were adopted by acclamation with no objections raised.
PRESENTATION
OF 2019 DRAFT BUDGET BY THE CHAIRMAN OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
This was done by the
Finance committee chairman, Councillor Mendi Stephen Dung. He read his
committee’s report on the study they had made on the draft budget for 2019 the
previous day, which was quite comprehensive and explicit. The draft budget he
noted was investment oriented and called on the collaboration of sector
ministries for the exploitation of the council development plan (CDP), given
the fact that 77% of the projects are drawn from there.
Professor Mendi Stephen Dung explained that
statutory regulations were respected as follows; the budget is balanced at the
sum of Seven Hundred and Eighty-Three Million, Six Hundred and Twenty-Eight
Thousand (783.628.000) Francs CFA in revenue and expenditure, as against Six
Hundred and Ninety-Five Million and Seventy Five Thousand for 2018 witnessing
an increase of 88.553.000 FCFA or 12.74%.
Operational revenue stands
at 347.528.000FCFA while investment revenue is 436.100.000 FCFA. He said the
statutory regulations are respected as follows;
-
Investment expenditure is 460.828.000 FCFA
giving about 58.81%, up from 373.800.000 FCFA which was 53.78% for last year;
being an increase of 87.028.000 FCFA. Meanwhile at least 40% of total
expenditure is recommended for investment.
-
Operational expenses is 322.800.000 FCFA
indicating a slight increase of 1,525.000 FCFA however the percentage of 41.19%
is a decrease of 5.03%, compared to 2018.
-
Personnel expenses are projected at the sum
of 99.500.000 or 30.82% down from 100.000.000 FCFA for last year. It is
required that personnel expenses be less than 35 of operational expenditure.
Furthermore, he explain that of the projects presented, 45% are of secured
source of funding. 30.4% are pending confirmation of funding sources. While
24.6% depends on council funds. He ended the presentation by calling on the
adoption after debate of the draft budget by his fellow colleagues.
COMMENTS
Councilor Buo Ephraim took
the floor and bought the idea of the SDO who said they could not exploit that
budget in the absence of peace. He expressed doubts as to the terms of
reference of disarmament commission because rampant arrest and killings were still
been observed in the municipality. He said that the lives of civilians were at
risk, they were targeted by the military for connivance with the Amba Boys. He
doubted the criteria or procedure of preaching this peace since they were
victimized for connivance.
At this juncture, the Mayor
advised the councillors to get closer to the military whose leaders were present,
to better mediate since the military are also their brothers. The Senator of
the division Mr. Buh Sule Tegha took the floor and condemned the attitudes of
the military and pleaded with the Mayor to be resident in Wum so that
councillors can be courageous to better play their role. Councilor Buo Ephraim
pleaded for the amount to the Chief of Services to be increased from 10,000FCFA
to 15,000FCFA if they were ready to render more sacrifices to the council. Councillor Ghong Ivor noted they were going
out of the agenda and therefore observed that the council salary ‘bareme’ was
not motivating enough. This was kept in view for the attention of the Mayor.
The Mayor responded that the bareme in question was faked. The Mayor informed
his Councillors that the electrification of Ngouh-Wanangwen were still under
lobby, while Upkwa is in the 2019 state budget. Kudos to him, Kecha community is
in the process of being electrified as material has already been bought pending
the return of peace. Fortunately the rehabilitation of the Atue road had been
approved and the dream was to realize the 2019 budget at the rate of at least 85%.
After proper examination of the draft budget, Councilor Ghong Ivo did not
hesitate to move for adoption by his fellow councilors. He was seconded by
councilor Afuh Andrew and this was unanimously adopted by all councilors that
the Wum Council budget for 2019 is adopted at the sum of 783.628.000 which
balances in revenue and expenditure.
MOTIONS
(DELIBERATIONS)
Deliberation
n° 06/2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on the adoption of the Wum Council 2017 Administrative
Account Minutes.
Deliberation
n°07/ 2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on the adoption of the 2019 budget of Wum Council
which balances in revenue and expenditure at the sum of Seven Hundred and
Eighty-Three Million, Six Hundred and Twenty-Eight Thousand (783, 628, 000)
Francs CFA.
Deliberation
n°08/2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on employment of
holiday workers in the Wum municipality
Deliberation
n° 09/2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on the empowerment of the Mayor of Wum council to
sponsor a Wum Council Unity Tournament for Team Sports leading to the 2019 end
of year festivities with the sum of one million(1,000,000) francs CFA
Deliberation
n°10/ 2017 of 28th December 2018 bearing on the adoption of the Wum Council Annual Investment
Plan (AIP) for 2019 at the sum of Four Hundred and Twenty Million, Seven
Hundred and Twenty Eight Thousand (420,728,000) Francs CFA
Deliberation
n° 11/2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on support to PTA’S of some Primary and Nursery
Schools in Wum municipality.
Deliberation
n° 12/2018 of 28th December 2018 that the Mayor of Wum Council is empowered to recruit
temporary workers for Wum Council.
Deliberation
n° 13/2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on carrying out of Feasibility Studies and Environmental
Impact Notices on Wum Council projects for 2019.
Deliberation
n° 14/2018 of 28th December 2018 empowering the Mayor of Wum council to seek funding from
FEICOM for Wum Council.
Deliberation
n° 15/2018 of 28th December 2018 empowering the Mayor of Wum Council to seek funding from
FEICOM for Social and Low Cost Housing.
Deliberation
n° 16/2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on empowering the Mayor of Wum Council to seek funding
for solar lighting and solar panels from FEICOM.
Deliberation
n° 17/2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on empowering the Mayor of Wum Council to join and to seek funding and projects from the Global
Convenant of Mayors for Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) focused
on three pillars, universal access to energy, strengthening the local
resilience and adaptation to climate change, mitigation and low emissions
development.
Deliberation
N° 18/2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on empowering the Mayor of Wum Council to seek funding
and/ or projects from internal and/or external development partners.
Deliberation
n° 19/2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on empowering the Mayor of Wum Council to produced
city builder’s cards which shall be sold to the elite, friends and well-wishers
of Wum Municipality as part of their own contribution for the development of
the Municipality, ranging from Five Hundred (500)F CFA to One Million (1,000,000)F
CFA.
Deliberation
n° 20/2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on the allocation of monthly allowance of Ten Thousand
(10,000) F CFA to Wum Council Head of Services
Deliberation
n° 21/2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on the purchase of four (04) Motor Bikes for Wum Council
to assist on youth employment.
Deliberation
n° 22/2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on empowering the Mayor of Wum Council to name the Wum
Municipality as “The Land of Great
Hospitality”.
Deliberation
n° 23/2018 of 28th December 2018 bearing on empowering the Mayor of Wum Council to give a
particular colour for the Wum Municipality, which is pink to be used
subsequently for all buildings constructed within the Wum Municipality.
All
the above deliberations were unanimously vote and adopted by councillors.
WORRIES
The worry of Councilor
Mohamadou Amadou was the blockage of the Wum-Bamenda road. In response the Mayor
said that the maintenance of national road like Wum-Bamenda N11 is not the
obligation of the council but that of the state and pleaded to the members of
the upper and lower house of parliament to handle the issue in parliament.
Taking the floor again, the
SDO emphasized that people should not be victimized for connivance with the
Amba Fighters. He called for all to go near the Amba fighters and arbitrate
peace and warned on any cases of victimization for the maintenance of the
Wum-Bamenda road. He again told the assembly that the Amba fighters shall be taken
care of by the disarmament committee. The Senator did not also fail to inform
the gathering that in the National budget, there was provision for the
maintenance of Wum-Bafut road. The Mayor informed the session that the Minister
of Public Contracts created tender boards in all councils last June 2018 and
said the constitution of a tender board was procedural, as it was pending the
appointment of Presidents of the Boards by the Minister.
CLOSING
REMARKS
The Lord Mayor thanked
everybody for answering present while encouraging those who braved the odds to
be present in the session. He said they were all committed elite reason why
their desire and wish to build Wum council was inevitable. He appreciated all
proposals that led to the voting of Wum council 2019 budget. The chairman
explained that it was not his wish to be out of Wum but for other
administrative and security reasons. Though threats are there, but they at times
build people. This explains why I had to overcome them in order to be present. He
thanked the SDO and entourage for their fervent support and contributions
towards the voting of the draft budget. He wished them all a safe return and a
successful end of year. The meeting rose at 1:30pm with the singing of the refrain
of the National Anthem.
MINUTES SECRETARY CHAIRMAN
SECRETARY GENERAL LORD
MAYOR WUM COUNCIL WUM COUNCIL
