Parliamentarians set out government priorities for the year 2025

By Stephen TADAHA

The third and last session of parliament for the year 2024 opened in the nation’s capital, Yaoundé on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, with members of both the Lower and Upper houses of parliament, setting out government priorities for the upcoming year.

During the opening at the National Assembly, the speaker, Cavaye Yeguié Djibril, drew the government’s attention to the sensitivity of the 2025 electoral year, and recommended that everything be done to ensure that the presidential election takes place in a secured and peaceful atmosphere. On the agricultural front, the head of the Lower House of Parliament welcomed the improvement observed during the last season, taking the example of progress in the cocoa sector.

In terms of energy, the National Assembly however appreciated the establishment of infrastructures aimed at resolving the energy deficit at a time when the country is on the path to its emergence.

At the Senate, the session opened with a minute of silence for those who lost their lives in the double landslide of the Dschang cliff on November 5, 2024.

In his opening speech on behalf of the President of the Senate Marcel NIAT NJIFENJI, the First Vice President ABOUBAKARY ABDOULAYE also set the scene for this opening session.

He noted that the Session, traditionally devoted to the examination and vote of the finance law, takes place this year in a context of various global crises which have weakened the government’s capacity to respond satisfactorily to the expectations and needs of the population.

ABOUBAKARY ABDOULAYE also noted the credible and effective responses that must be provided to questions related to security, education, health and the purchasing power of Cameroonians.

He however affirmed that government’s efforts should be encouraged and must be continued, particularly the consolidation of public and tax accounts and the reduction of inflation which remains alarming.

Other problems faced by the population like access to drinking water, the quality of communication networks and infrastructures, poor health conditions, the preservation of the private domain of the State and the maintenance of infrastructures were also among issues mentioned by the Senator.