Assets Declaration Bill To Rock Parliament

By Kini Nsom

The ongoing Parliamentary session is expected to go stormy this week when MPs begin scrutinising the bill on the declaration of assets in a plenary sitting.Members of the Constitutional Laws Committee began scanning the draft law last week. According to sources, discussions were hot and rowdy as MPs picked holes on the bill.

Many of them reportedly argued that it would not be normal to put the declaration of assets squarely in the hands of nine committee members who would be groping in the dark in the name of confidentiality. They held that a genuine declaration of assets should be open to public scrutiny.

There are already apprehensions as to what degree of independence such a Commission whose members are appointed by the Head of State, will have. Hon. Joseph Mbah Ndam who is a member of the Constitutional Laws Committee, picked holes on the bill, describing it as a smokescreen that will allow many people loot from the public till and still go scot-free.

Some observers are already pessimistic that the bill would be nothing to write home about were it to be adopted the way it is.According to Article 66 of the 1996 Constitution, the following personalities shall be liable to declaration of assets and property, the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, Members of Government and persons ranking as such, President and Members of the Bureau of the National Assembly,

President and Members of the Bureau of the Senate, Members of Parliament and Senators, all holders of elective offices, Secretaries-General of Ministries and persons ranking as such, Directors of the Central Administration, General Managers of Public and semi-public enterprises, Judicial and legal officers, personnel of government services in charge of the funds and budget control and all managers of public votes and property.

Equally bound to the declaration of assets and property according to section 2(2) of the draft law are: the President of the Economic and Social Council, Ambassadors, Rectors of state Universities, Government Delegates to certain Councils, Board Chairpersons of enterprises of public and semi- public sector, Provincial Governors and Senior Divisional Officers; Chairpersons of Tender Boards, President of Trade Chambers, Managers of projects funded externally and or with state subsidies, officials in charge of administrative and Judicial liquidations; Officials of public administrative establishments and state -owned corporations, up to the rank of Director; Central Administration Officials ranking as Central Administration Directors among others.

Many MPs The Post spoke to, were of the opinion that if it is well applied, the draft law when promulgated, could reverse the devastating trend in which over 50 percent of the state budget goes into private pockets through various acts of corruption and embezzlement. But just how well or how soon the law will be applied after adoption, remains at the mercy of a Presidential decree.

After the election of the Bureau of the National Assembly, MPs are expected to settle for serious business this week, when they sieve two draft laws. Besides the bill on assets declaration, MPs will also discuss bill N° 786/PJL/AN that aims to authorise the President of the Republic to ratify the air transport agreement between Cameroon and Chad signed at N'djamena on August 31, 2005.

The explanatory statement of the draft law says Cameroon and Chad have decided to review the Air Agreement signed at Fort_ Lamy (now N'djamena) on May 25, 1973, in order to promote the development of air transport between the two countries and tailor it to suit international trends.

Question time that has of late been a regular feature in Parliament is yet to see the light of the day in this session.

Comments

[FONJONG]

NOTHING WILL CHANGE

The declaration of assets will not stop corruption in Cameroon. It will just cause a topic of discussion amongst Cameroonians. Just to know who owns what and where he owns them will be the talk in the air.

But will that stop corruption or improve the living standards of Cameroonians? No.

Biya should call for an independent electoral commission and seperate the 3 major wings of the country and make them independent.

The judiciary, the executive and the legislation.

This will mean something for Cameroon. If that is doe, then Biya wil be behind the bars the next day. And Cameroonians will begin to smell the better future.

[bimbia boy]

Declaring assest is a good idea. Restricting it to top government officials and senior states men is wrong. What about tax collectors or local finance clerks in councils? It should be done to everyone working with the civil service.