Government’s Economic, Financial, Social and Cultural Programme for the 2019 (full text)

“The Right Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,
Honourable Members of the Bureau of the National Assembly,
Honourable Members of the National Assembly,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very delighted to take the floor before the full membership of the National Assembly to present Government’s Economic, Financial, Social and Cultural Programme for the 2019 fiscal year, a Programme prepared by the Government under the authority of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA,
I sincerely thank The Right Honourable Speaker for the kind words he said to me and the entire Government.
Honourable Members of the National Assembly,
Government’s Economic, Financial, Social and Cultural Programme for the 2019 fiscal year is being presented after the swearing-in of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA, who has just been massively re-elected by Cameroonians. I would like on behalf of the Government to officially and respectfully wish him total success in his new term of office.
This Government’s economic, Financial, Social and Cultural Programme draws on the instructions of the Head of State, in the important speech he pronounced here during his oath-taking on 6 November 2018.
This oath-taking ceremony concluded a transparent, credible, and memorable electoral process, during which Cameroon showed the world the image of a country which is free, democratic, with a bright future.
This Government’s economic, Financial, Social and Cultural Programme draws on the instructions of the Head of State, in the important speech he pronounced here during his oath-taking on 6 November 2018.
This oath-taking ceremony concluded a transparent, credible, and memorable electoral process, during which Cameroon showed the world the image of a country which is free, democratic, with a bright future.
I will begin by presenting an overview of the main activities implemented by Government in the year 2018 that is ending. Next, I will chart the prospects of Government action during the 2019 financial year.
The Right Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,
Honourable Members of the National Assembly,
During 2018, Government activities were mainly to consolidating the achievements of previous years and tackle head on numerous stakes and challenges related, among other things, to:
the furtherance of peace, national unity and the spirit of togetherness;
the finalization of construction works of sports facilities and related infrastructure, ahead of the organization of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations;
the continued implementation of the Three-Year Emergency Plan for Accelerating Economic Growth;
the implementation of the Three-Year Special Youth Plan;
the follow-up of major infrastructure projects;
the continued implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement concluded with the European Union.
In the social area, despite a national context marked by security constraints and social agitation, our country exhibited resilience and put up a united front behind the Head of State.
I take this opportunity to salute the great sense of maturity and Republican spirit of our fellow citizens. They did not give in to blackmail nor allow themselves to be manipulated by the enemies of the Nation. They remained united in overcoming the threats which our country faced in 2018.
In the area of budget and finance, the implementation of the 2018 State budget was marked at the macroeconomic by deep recession at the global level. As a result, business was slowed down in emerging countries and in the Euro zone, coupled with an increased inflation rate in certain countries.
The international context negatively impacted growth forecasts of the national economy, as well as key fiscal aggregates. This was mostly seen in the drop in:
revenue for the first half of 2018 and induced urgent measures necessary for restoring fiscal balance; and
a supplementary Finance Law was adopted.
The year 2018 was also characterized by a more vigorous implementation of programme budgeting and the reform of the financial regime of the State. The President of the Republic promulgated the law instituting the Financial Regime of the State and other public entities, as well the law instituting the Code of Transparency and Good Governance in public finance management.

On 31 July 2018, the following facts were noted with regard to the general performance in revenue optimization:

tax revenue mobilized was 922 billion 200 million CFA francs, or 5% of expected forecasts;
customs revenue stood at 362 billion CFA francs, giving a performance of 90%.
Similarly, recurrent expenditure in the first half of 2018 stood at 957 billion CFA francs, representing an overall implementation rate of 81.7%, while capital expenditure stood at 741 billion 900 million CFA francs, making an implementation rate of 114.9% compared to forecasts for the same period.

For its part, public debt service absorbed 301 billion 100 million CFA francs, posting a delivery rate of 57.1% in the first half of 2018.
In this first half of 2018, the financial sector was characterized by the following key indicators:
a +4.4% increase in banks’ total consolidated balance sheets which stood at 5 thousand 399 million 600 thousand CFA francs;
an 8.7% rise in bank deposits estimated at 4 billion 130 million CFA francs;
an increase in bank credit of about 6% and drop in the external position to 83%.
In contrast, the micro-finance sector appeared quite stable and dynamic. It contributes nearly 11% to financing the national economy, despite a few persistent problems linked mostly to bad governance and inadequate professionalism among some developers.
On the economic front, Government continued implementing the structural reforms adopted under the Economic and Financial Programme concluded with the International Monetary Fund, backed by an Extended Credit Facility of about 400 billion CFA francs.
Our main development partners provided budget support. Through economic cooperation, we were also able to mobilize substantial financing in the form of loans and grants for the implementation of development projects.

In the area of public procurement, Government worked in earnest to modernise the existing system to make it more efficient through two key reforms, namely:

Decree No. 2018/355 of 12 June 2018 to lay down common rules applicable to the contracts of public enterprises; and
Decree No. 2018/366 of 20 June 2018 instituting the Public Contracts Code.
Also, there was a better control of contract execution and as a result, 2 thousand contracts worth 4 thousand 500 billion 961 million CFA francs were controlled.

As far as the fight against the embezzlement of public funds is concerned, 2018 was marked by the intensification and diversification of audits and the systematic punishments meted out against unscrupulous managers.

Consequently, about ten audit missions were sent to some public bodies in 2018, and the systematic sanctions on poor management culminated in the payment of 8 billion 365 million CFA francs into the Public Treasury.

With regard to territorial administration, our country faced, as you are aware, several security challenges which are gradually being contained under the leadership of the Head of State.

Civil protection was not left out. The main actions focused on humanitarian assistance under the Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Plan in the North-West and South-West Regions, to benefit 74 thousand 994 displaced persons and/or persons affected by conflicts.

In the area of local governance, one of the landmarks was the creation of the Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development on 2 March 2018, by the President of the Republic.

Government worked towards making this new ministry operational, though its internal structures are still being set up.

With regard to Justice, Government action focused amongst others on the recruitment of 581 Assistant Court Registrars, the on-going training of 100 Pupil Magistrates and 240 judicial officers.

Moreover, the process to digitalise judicial services was intensified in 2018 through the on-going interconnection of the 10 Courts of Appeal.

Government also pursued its efforts to improve the penitentiary policy.

The Right Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,

Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

The Three Year Emergency Plan for Accelerating Economic Growth (PLANUT) decided by the Head of State continued to be implemented.

Regarding the Africa Cup of Nations, Government is taking every necessary measure to ensure that Cameroon is ready on the D-Day, as prescribed by the Head of State.

The successive visits of leaders of the Confederation of African Football have enabled us to make necessary adjustments on all sites.

All companies and other stakeholders involved are speeding up works while ensuring compliance with prescribed standards.

The Right Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,

Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

The year 2018 was also marked by intense Government action in the implementation of other sectoral public policies.

With regard to Water and Energy, remarkable progress was recorded both in supply and access to these resources.

Regarding energy, meaningful outcomes were recorded with improved energy supply through the completion of some major infrastructure projects.

As far as the water sector is concerned, public authorities have updated policies and strategies in the water sector, after the lease contract signed on 18 December 2007 with la Camerounaise des Eaux. Indeed, on the instructions of the Head of State, the management of drinking water was entrusted to CAMWATER.

In the Public Works sector, significant efforts were made in 2018 to expand and modernise the national road network.

To illustrate this, we can mention the construction of 317 kilometres 630 metres of newly asphalted roads and 144 metres of bridges constructed, through the completion of various projects.

Moreover, it should be noted that the adoption of an appropriate regulatory framework has led to the implementation of several road projects under direct management to reduce road congestion. The results obtained are encouraging. On a sample of 11 projects, implementation rates are at an approximate 76%.

Government also made significant progress in the area of housing. Some achievements include:

the completion of the construction of 700 social houses, as part of the implementation of the pilot phase of the Government programme to build 1,675 social houses in Olembe, Yaounde, and in Mbanga Bakoko, Douala;
the reception of 1,500 social houses built with Chinese cooperation.
With regard to sanitation in urban areas, the Douala runoff drainage project covering 39 km is 57.5% complete. The Yaounde sanitization project, which covers a distance of 14 km, is 91.5% complete.

In the Transport sector, 2018 was marked by the functioning of the Kribi deep-sea port, the renovation of national and international airports, the continuation of the implementation of the Camair-Co Recovery Plan and the Five-Year Railway Plan No. 1, as well as the development of meteorological stations and the continuation of road safety activities.

In Posts and Telecommunications, Government undertook several initiatives, including:

The rehabilitation and equipment of the Makak and Bafoussam III Post Offices;
The regulation and supervision of postal networks and services, through the development of a reference system for product pricing;
the creation of an e-Post CAMPOST Platform; and
the creation of the online payment platform.
With regard to Scientific Research and Innovation, Government focused on actions to further strengthen research, development and innovation.

In the Industry, Mines and Technological Development sectors, Government carried out the following actions:

the continuation of the expansion of the Mining Code, whose implementation led to some developments, including increased revenue from various taxes and duties in the mining sector, from 4 billion CFA francs in 2017 to almost 5 billion CFA francs in 2018;
the direct channelling of gold to artisanal miners, with projections of 40 kilograms by the end of 2018 and 120 kilograms over the same period for operators in the semi-mechanized handicraft sector; and
the development of certain mining sites, including the Akonolinga rutile project for which an international call for tenders has been launched; the negotiation of three mining agreements for the exploration of the Akom II iron ore deposits, Kribi iron ore deposits and Colomine gold deposits; the issuance of a Research Permit on the Ngaoundal and Minim-Martap bauxite deposit.
In the Trade sector, several actions were taken by Government to increase exports and regulate the internal market.

In the area of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, Government mainly focused on promoting private initiatives and increasing the productivity and competitiveness of SMEs.

With regard to the Environment, Government action focused on ensuring resilience, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and sustainable biodiversity management.

In forestry and wildlife, Government continued its efforts to create Forest Management Units and to fight against the illicit sale of timber.

The Right Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,

Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

Government equally laid emphasis on developing and promoting agro-pastoral and agro-industrial activities.

In agriculture, Government worked particularly to improve productivity and competitiveness of the agricultural sectors, through the production and distribution of improved seeds and seedlings, notably in the following sub-sectors: maize, Irish potatoes, beans, yams, cocoa, Arabica coffee, groundnut, plantain, and cocoyams.

With regard to livestock and development of animal industries, Government focused on amplifying actions geared towards industrialising and modernising the production mechanism.

Regarding the Public Service and Administrative Reform, the most remarkable actions centred on monitoring the process to update the list of positions within the Public Service, the continuous update of the State Payroll, the transparent processing of files and rational management of human resources and the continuous dematerialization of procedures, and the introduction of performance standards within the Public Service.

In State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure, 2018 was marked by the modernisation of surveys, reinforced protection and enhancement of State heritage, as well as the constitution of land reserves.

The Right Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,

Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

In the Communication sector, Government laid particular emphasis on improving supply and access to information.

In the area of Basic Education, Government actions centred on making primary education universal, promoting literacy and developing pre-school offer.

In general and technical secondary education, major achievements mainly concerned the improvement of the offer in Government technical and vocational high schools, the adequate equipping of existing educational structures and the fight against students dropping out of school in the North-West and South-West Regions by admitting displaced students into schools in other Regions.

With regard to Higher Education, Government action focused mainly on improving the quantity and quality of accommodation capacity as well as on professionalizing and modernizing training schools and institutes.

In Public Health, Government put in much effort to act efficiently on health determinants, the fight against diseases, the management of cases and the strengthening of hospital technical equipment and infrastructure.

In Employment and Vocational Training, Government took steps to promote decent jobs by enabling the creation of 437 thousand 653 new jobs in the modern sector of the economy.

This performance was achieved thanks to numerous opportunities offered by the various recruitments of the Public Service, the Defence and Security Forces, and the Local Authorities. It was also fostered by the implementation of the Three-year Emergency Plan for Accelerating Economic Growth decided by the President of the Republic. The promotion of decent jobs also benefitted from government programmes and projects, as well as the monitoring of the workforce in various major public construction sites, including those of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

With regard to Labour and Social Security, Government’s accomplishments notably contributed to the promotion of social security for a large number of workers and the improvement of labour protection.

As concerns Youth and Civic Education, Government focused on civic education and national integration, socio-economic integration of youths, community life and citizen participation, and the Three-year Special Youth Plan.

In the area of Social Affairs, Government’s action mainly focused on the protection of socially vulnerable persons, and the promotion of national solidarity and social justice.

With regard to Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Government’s action mainly focused on premarital, marital and family education, granting of aid and assistance to destitute and needy people, and popularising legal instruments on the protection of children’s rights.

In the area of Arts and Culture, Government’s efforts focused on the implementation of actions aimed at developing the cultural and creative industry, and preserving, popularizing and promoting our national cultural identity.

The Right Honourabe Speaker of the National Assembly,

Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would now like to present the broad lines Government’s programme for 2019.

To meet the stakes and challenges that await Cameroon in 2019, Government must continue the implementation of on-going institutional and structural reforms and fast-track the execution pace of major anchor projects.

This will require that we spare no effort to complete on time the various infrastructure to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Furthermore public authorities will set out to finalise the projects under the Three Year Emergency Plan for Accelerating Economic Growth, and implement the Three Year Special Youth Plan.

With regard to the public procurement system, Government action will focus mainly on:

the online programming of public contracts through the application Cameroon Online E-Procurement System;
the signing of all enabling instruments of the Public Contracts Code in force and its popularisation;
effectively categorising companies in the construction and public works sector for their consideration in the contract award process;
the intensification of missions to fight against corruption and unscrupulous practices in public contracts.
With regard to territorial governance, Government will pursue and optimise the implementation of the following activities:

increased monitoring of the political and security situation in the North-West and South-West Regions;
the continuation of the programme to construct and rehabilitate the offices and residences of administrative authorities;
continue the sanitising of sensitive sectors of activity such as gambling, armouries, and private security agencies;
sanitising and updating the list of traditional chieftaincies;
pursuing the implementation of the Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Plan in the North-West and South-West Regions;
the commissioning of the Ekounou National Emergency Telecommunication Centre.
In the area of decentralisation and local development, we shall continue to empower the ministry in charge of decentralisation at the institutional level.

Priority will be given to fast-tracking the decentralisation process as instructed by the Head of State.
With regard to security, we shall lay emphasis on:
strengthening the adaptation capacity of various mechanisms depending on the security situation on the ground;
extending the video surveillance system to Regional headquarters and sensitive border areas;
continuing the process to set up new Police and Gendarme units throughout the national territory;
continuing the modernisation of State security services in their operational capacity.
In the judicial area, priority actions projected for 2019 by Government shall focus on the following projects:

the training of English-speaking magistrates and Court Registrars in Administrative Law and the OHADA Uniform Act on accounting law;
the bilingual training of Magistrates, Court registrars and Contract Workers;
preparing the draft bill to establish a bilingual Civil and Commercial Code;
computerising the Trade and Personal Property Credit Register;
reinforcing the coordination mechanisms of child protection and juvenile justice;
leading internal audit and control missions to fight against corruption in judicial services;
improving judicial activity in terms of access to justice and implementation of court decisions.
In the same vein, we plan to improve the penitentiary policy, by:

continuing the construction of the Douala-Ngoma prison;
constructing water tanks in the Mbanga, Monatele and Batouri main prisons;
rehabilitating the Mbouda, Yokadouma and Tcholliré I prisons;
continuing education and training in petty trades for minors in prisons;
improving the health coverage and the follow up of the implementation of the HIV/AIDS control policy in prisons.
At the economic level, we shall focus on diversifying our economy by improving the local production and processing capacity of our raw materials.

Furthermore, we shall ensure the compliance with structural reforms in the Economic and Finance Programme concluded in with the International Monetary Fund in June 2017, and backed by the Extended Credit Facility.

With regard to public finance, we shall reinforce budgetary discipline in order to rationalise public spending. We shall also improve the quality of our income by securing and identifying all potential income generating niches.

In more specific terms, the innovations of the Finance bill for fiscal year 2019 concern amongst others:

taxes and custom duties, notably:
measures to broaden the tax base and reduce tax expenditure;
measures to enhance the social and business climate.
The General Tax Code, particularly:
harmonising tax rates for real estate transactions;
excluding the purchase of oil products by marketers from the list of products whose taxes are withheld on purchase;
cancelling the option open to companies under specialised management units to pay their employees’ income taxes to their respective tax offices;
strengthening the promotion of economically distressed areas;
specifying the scope of Value Added Tax exemption for the various social classes on water and electricity consumption;
clarifying the tax base on excise duty for brewery products;
clarifying the terms of payment of excise duties on gambling and entertainment;
relaxing the eligibility conditions for reimbursement of credit on Value Added Tax;
increasing the visitor’s tax for accommodations not classified as furnished;
harmonising tax audit deadlines;
reinforcing sanctions for non payment of taxes deducted at source.
The Right Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,

Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

With regard to Energy, Government’s priority actions aim at increasing energy supply and improving access.

In the area of road infrastructure, particular emphasis shall be on actions to substantially improve access to roads, anticipate demand, and maintain the road network.

Thus, priority shall be given to completing ongoing projects and ensuring their proper execution, implementing the infrastructure investment programme, intensifying the implementation of the State’s engineering projects to ensure quality, and maintaining and rehabilitating earth roads.

In the area of Housing, Government will, among other things, lay particular emphasis on:

– completing the construction of 2 thousand houses being built by national Small and Medium-sized Enterprises;

– launching the construction of one thousand houses under the pilot phase of the project to build 10,000 houses and related socio-cultural facilities, and an industrial base for the prefabrication of structural building components; and

– accelerating the construction works of the Cité des Cinquantenaires in Douala and launching the construction works in Yaounde.

Efforts will continue in Urban Development.

The Right Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,

Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the Transport sector, Government will focus on achieving the commitment made by the President of the Republic in his 2018 manifesto and at his inaugural on 6th November in this hemicycle, that is, to continue accelerating the development of road, rail, air and maritime infrastructure, to complement each other.

In the Posts and Telecommunications sector, Government intends to strengthen the development of the digital economy, whose conceptual framework and operational priorities are provided for in the Digital Cameroon 2025 Strategy.

As concerns Mines and Industry, Government seeks to increase the sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product by enhancing the country’s mining potential, implementing the industrialization plan prescribed by the Head of State, with a view to promoting the local processing of our natural resources and the competitiveness of the national production sector.

Essentially, Government’s prospects on technology development and intellectual property mainly include:

– the conduct of studies for the construction of an agro-industrial Technological pole;

– the launch of a statistical survey to monitor data on the mining, industries and technological development sub-sector;

– the expansion and interconnection of Technology and Innovation Support Centres.

In the field of Forestry and Wildlife, Government’s flagship activities will be focused on the development and renewal of forest resources; reforestation and regeneration of forest resources; and enhancing the value of timber and non-timber forest resources.

In the area of the Environment, Government intends to intensify the fight against desertification and climate change.

It will also intensify the fight against land degradation and strengthen the implementation of the REDD+ strategy and climate related to the Paris Agreement.

In addition, emphasis will be laid on the sustainable management of biodiversity, the fight against pollution, through the strengthening of the climate change policy and the rational management of hazardous or dangerous waste and chemicals.

In Agriculture, Government intends to focus on:

improving the productivity and competitiveness of agricultural sectors;
intensifying the training of rural stakeholders in new production, processing and marketing technologies through the creation of centres of excellence for agricultural sectors;
organising the National Forum on Agriculture;
monitoring water management to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure production in every season of the year;
implementing a project for fruit development and processing;
strengthen and develop the cooperative movement.
In the field of livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Government intends to invest in:

the completion of resource management plans for livestock rearers in 30 councils;
the insemination of 2 thousand cows and the importation of 300 bred heifers belonging to the Montbeliarde breed;
the provision of support to 500 livestock traders to encourage subscription to Islamic finance;
the development of 300 hectares of land for the production of fodder and 75 hectares for the production of seeds;
the construction of 3 slaughterhouses and cattle rearing and fish farming infrastructure;
the vaccination of 8 million small ruminants against pests;
the vaccination of 3 million cattle against epizootic diseases;
the protection of national poultry stocks by improving biosecurity in the poultry sector and managing the risks associated with the bird flu;
consumer protection and the fight against zoonoses;
the construction of the Youpwe fish market in Douala; 07 Fisheries Centres; 06 fishing stations;
the construction of 15 smoking rooms and drying sheds;
the intensive production of fingerlings for aquaculture facilities and private producers.
With regard to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, Government will focus on:

promoting private initiative by providing support to 100 young project leaders;
rehabilitate the Bertoua and Limbe Agribusiness Centres, respectively dedicated to cassava processing and fish smoking;
producing 1,000 cards for craftsmen to confer on them the status of entrepreneur;
continuing the switch of 1,000 informal production units to Very Small Companies;
finalizing the construction of the Bafoussam and Mbalmayo craft villages;
commissioning the Foumban and Ngaoundere craft villages.
Concerning State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure, Government’s activity will focus on:

securing land for agribusiness;
securing State-owned land to facilitate self-building by the population;
resettling occupants of marshy areas in Yaounde, (pilot phase);
making effective and promoting co-ownership in urban areas;
strengthening the protection of archives of plots under considerable land pressure and establishing one-stop shops for the payment of land taxes and other land transactions in Yaounde and Douala;
finalizing the computerization of State property, land and survey procedures in the pilot towns of Yaounde, Douala, Garoua and Maroua and expansion to the cities of Ngaoundere, Bertoua, Bafoussam, Bamenda, Buea, Sangmelima;
launching the construction of the Cité des Fonctionnaires (Civil Servants Housing Project) in Yaounde;
rehabilitating the Yaounde Administrative Garage;
developing a reform on expropriations and finalising the reform on the land sub-sector.
The Right Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,

Honourable Members of The National Assembly,

With regard to prospects in communication, Government intends to give priority to:

the production and provision of access to international TV signal for the media coverage needs of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations;
the continuation of the rehabilitation of CRTV;
the setting up of an organizational structure of the Virtual Information Agency;
the finalization of the legal framework governing advertising;
the approval of enabling instruments on social communication.
In the basic education sector, Government will focus its efforts on achieving the following objectives:

construct 700 thousand classrooms in government primary schools;
construct 80 latrine blocks in government primary schools;
construct 24 fences to secure government primary schools;
acquire 21 thousand 834 desks to equip government primary schools;
support the functioning of schools by granting the Minimum Package;
allocate operating budgets to government primary schools;
support private primary education by granting a subsidy of 3 billion 99 million 995 thousand CFA francs;
construct 15 community nursery schools for children aged 4 to 5 in rural areas;
improve government nursery school offer;
conduct literacy programmes for 28 thousand youths and adults;
strengthen the capacities of 100 experimental school teachers in the creation of a literate environment in national languages;
transfer an allocation of 17 billion 199 million CFA francs to Local Authorities.
Concerning secondary education, Government intends to continue to promote access to secondary education, improve the quality of education and life in the school environment, and promote the professionalization of education.

To this effect, Government intends to carry out the following actions:

construct 11 professional workshops;
rehabilitate damaged school infrastructure in the North-West and South-West Regions;
equip 57 science laboratories, 114 professional workshops, 4 administrative blocks, 390 classrooms and 19 staffrooms, and 3 computer laboratories;
allocate a subsidy of 2 billion 300 million CFA francs to private schools;
review curricula and guides for Première and Lower Sixth; and
support displaced students in the North-West, South-West and Far-North Regions.
In the higher education sector, Government intends to intensify activities aimed at promoting quality assurance in public and private universities, professionalizing university education, and seeking the employability of higher education graduates.

To this effect, focus will be placed on:

supporting young student startuppers by providing financing for students with projects or startups;
continuing the payment of allowances for the modernization of university research by teachers;
effectively starting classes at the Cameroon-Congo Interstate University of Sangmelima;
continuing construction works of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office of the Pan-African University of Nsimalen;
distributing the remaining computers offered to students of public and private universities;
constructing university Digital Development Centres in public universities and at the Cameroon-Congo Interstate University;
implementing the presidential decision on the special recruitment of two thousand (2 000) Lecturers, holders of doctorate degrees in State Universities in Cameroon – 1 000 Lecturers will be recruited in 2019.
Government prospects in the area of scientific research and innovation in 2019 will primarily aim to expand research in priority sectors with a high impact on economic growth.

To this effect, agricultural research will focus more on increasing agricultural production and diversifying production with economic value, such as cashew nuts and the Senegalese Acacia trees or Arabic gum.

Similarly, geological and mining research will mainly focus on activities to monitor earthquake-prone and mining zones, and to evaluate renewable energy resources.

In the employment and vocational training sector, apart from continuing ongoing actions, Government intends to carry out the following major activities:

elaborate enabling instruments to govern vocational training in Cameroon;
publish and disseminate the National Employment Policy;
organise and facilitate the reintegration of Cameroonian migrants returning from the Mediterranean Coast, through self-employment;
monitor the integration of nationals into ongoing major construction sites;
fight against illegal labour by intensifying controls in all production sectors;
promote green jobs and continue the setting up of Municipal Employment Offices;
elaborate the national vocational training map;
complete construction and equipment works of the Yaounde Teachers’ Training and Programme Development Institute;
elaborate the nomenclature of vocational training specialities;
continue construction works of secondary, university and Vocational Counselling Centres in Bamenda, Maroua and Ngaoundere.
With regard to labour and social security, Government action will focus on:

extending social security to new personnel fields outside the existing system;
intensifying control visits in companies;
maintaining social dialogue by regularly holding related monitoring committee sessions;
modernising the trade union office and cleaning up the trade union file;
strengthening the statistical information system in the area of labour and social security.
In the social sector, priority activities envisaged by public authorities concern the protection of Socially Vulnerable Persons and the consolidation of national solidarity and social justice, especially through:

the provision of care to refugee children in the East Region;
the provision of care to internally displaced children owed to the security crisis in the North-West and South-West Regions;
the continuation of the provision of care to children victims of the Boko Haram sect;
the intensification of the fight against child trafficking;
the rehabilitation of the Child Welfare Centre of Maroua;
the elaboration of a reference framework for the management of the social aspect of projects, and monitoring of the social compliance of projects.
Regarding women’s empowerment and the family, Government intends to pay special attention to the following specific actions:

support couples to legalize and secure their unions;
implement the National Plan to curb marital, domestic and family violence;
continue the implementation of the Action Plan against female genital mutilation and the National Strategy for the fight against gender-based violence;
continue to strengthen the political capacities of women;
monitor gender mainstreaming in public policies;
produce the 4th edition of Gender Ranking within public and parapublic administrations;
construct women empowerment centres in Soa, Mvengue and Ekondo Titi and rehabilitate those of Yaounde IV and Edea;
secure the women empowerment centres in Muyuka, Tokombere and Pette and equip those of Yaounde VI, Bourha, Mbanga, Kribi and Bipindi.
In the area of arts and culture, Government action will especially focus on:

the continuation of construction works of the Yaounde Arts and Cultural Centre;
the continuation of the general inventory of cultural heritage in the North and Far-North Regions;
the elaboration of a specific regulatory framework for film-making activities and audiovisual production;
the carrying out of archaeological and environmental studies on the Bimbia slavery site in the South-West Region, a collective memory site;
support for the rehabilitation of royal museums and fondoms as part of transferring power to Local Authorities;
the functioning of the organs of the Department of National Museums and Archives;
the organisation of the music and traditional dances festival, and the heritage and archaeological arts show;
support for various cultural events and community heritage festivals such as the NGONDO, MBAM’ART, NGUON and many others, throughout the national territory.
In the Public Health sector, Government focus will be on the following actions:

clean up the hospital milieu notably by setting up modern incinerators in major towns of the country for the treatment of hospital waste without pollution;
prevent malaria by launching the 3rd national campaign for the free distribution of 14 million 500 thousand treated long-lasting bed-nets in the 10 Regions of the country;
place 320 thousand persons living with HIV (PLWHIV) on free Antiretroviral treatment;
construct 83 Health units and equip fifteen of them with solar energy;
construct 2 modern hospitals specialised in psychiatry and gastro-pneumology;
construct 5 modern Blood Transfusion centres;
In the Sports and Physical Education sector, Government efforts will focus primarily on the completion and delivery of all sports, road, hotel, hospital, telecommunication and transport infrastructure required by the terms of reference of the Confederation of African Football, in order to guarantee the complete success of the TOTAL 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

As concerns Youth and Civic Education, apart from continuing with ongoing projects, Government prospects for 2019 will focus on achieving the following actions:

continue with the implementation of the Three-Year Special Youth Plan;

make the National Youth Observatory operational by mobilising, registering and guiding 500 thousand youths;
sensitize 300 thousand persons on the values of citizenship and national integration;
mobilize Volunteers towards the organisation of the TOTAL 2019 Africa Cup of Nations;
sustain the living together Villages;
provide specialised military training to youth and animation staff;
train 1 000 Conscripts and 600 Volunteers, as well as see to the implementation of pioneer villages by the National Civic Service Agency for Participation in Development;
construct Multifunctional Centres for the Promotion of Youths in refugee camps and persons displaced as a result of the acts of violence carried out by the islamist sect, Boko Haram and the crisis in the Central African Republic.
With regard to the implementation of the Three Year Emergency Plan for Accelerating Economic Growth (PLANUT), emphasis will be laid on continuing construction works of infrastructure in various sectors, their commissioning and mobilisation of necessary funds.

The Right Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,

Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the dawn of this new seven-year mandate of the Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA, dubbed Greater Opportunities, Government’s Economic, financial, social and cultural programme for 2019 would aim at consolidating achievements. It mainly entails mastering the challenges public authorities will face in order to stay our course towards Emergence by 2035.

Among these major stakes and challenges, noteworthy are:

mastering security constraints within the country and at the borders;
consolidating peace, national unity and living-together;
optimum preparation for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations;
complete the execution of the Three Year Emergency Plan for Accelerating Economic Growth, as well as implementation of the Three-Year Special Youth Plan;
preparation for the upcoming legislative and municipal elections;
accelerating the decentralisation process, notably through the setting up of Regions and the increased transfer of power and resources to Local Authorities;
finalising construction works on the major infrastructural and energy projects underway;
developing the digital economy, industrialization, and second generation agriculture;
modernising the economy, boosting growth, and creating jobs particularly for the youth; and
continuing with the implementation of the 2017-2019 Economic and Financial Programme concluded with the IMF.
The important and highly sensitive nature of these issues require that Government, during the 2019 fiscal year, acquires substantial budgetary and financial resources for the attainment of these objectives.

Consequently, the Draft Budget for the 2019 fiscal year, submitted for your approval, is based on a macroeconomic framework that takes into account contextual elements.

It is based on the realistic assumption of a real Gross Domestic Product growth rate of 4.4% and an inflation rate maintained below 3%.

The projected budgetary policy for 2019 equally aims at balancing our public finances at medium term and thus intends to continue to fully mobilize non-oil internal revenue. Government will have to keep on rationalising public expenses to ensure greater efficiency in public action.

Based on this assumption, this draft Finance Law for the 2019 Fiscal year is balanced in revenue and expenditure at 4 thousand 850 billion 500 million CFA francs, against 4 thousand 689 billion 500 million CFA francs in 2018, corresponding to an increase of 161 billion CFA francs in absolute terms and 3.4 % in relative terms.

This increase is quite moderate given the constraints of the specific context in which this Finance Law has been drafted as I had mentioned earlier.

Within this global forecast, revenue stands at 4 thousand 850 billion 500 million CFA francs, distributed as follows:

oil and gas revenue stand at 450 billion CFA francs;
non-oil revenue stands at 3 thousand 79 billion 500 million CFA francs;
project loans will stand at 588 billion CFA francs;
bond issues would be authorised to the tune of 260 billion CFA francs;
bank financing shall stand at 65 billion CFA francs;
expected budgetary support shall stand at 329 billion CFA francs.
grants will stand at 79 billion CFA francs
Projected expenses stand at 4 thousand 850 billion 500 million CFA francs, distributed as follows:

2 thousand 465 billion 500 million CFA francs for recurrent expenditure;
1 thousand 327 billion 600 million CFA francs for capital expenditure; or 37% of the annual budget;
1 thousand 57 billion 400 million CFA francs for the servicing of public debt.
The Right Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,

Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Such is the substance of Government’s Economic, Financial, Social and Cultural Programme for the 2019 Fiscal Year, for which Government is seeking the support of the Nation’s Members of the National Assembly with a view to its implementation under the distinguished stewardship of the Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA.

Thank you for your kind attention.”

Elvis Teke

Journalist, Online Reporter, News Presenter, Programme Anchor, Peace Advocate, Geo-strategist,

Laisser un commentaire

Votre adresse e-mail ne sera pas publiée. Les champs obligatoires sont indiqués avec *

Ce site utilise Akismet pour réduire les indésirables. En savoir plus sur comment les données de vos commentaires sont utilisées.