Following the rise in fuel prices, the government announced support measures aimed at supporting households. So on February 21, the President of the Republic increased salaries by 5% and increased family allowances to 4,500 per child. What is your assessment of this measure?
Allow me to begin by informing public opinion that the government’s announcement of support measures following an illegal increase in fuel prices is unacceptable contempt for the Cameroonian population.
Then, I would like to note that these two measures, namely a 5% increase in the salaries of state agents and the revaluation of the amount of family allowances to 4,500 CFA francs, not only participate in the usual delaying strategy, but above all do not are nothing more than window dressing.
What percentage do state agents represent compared to the entire active population? Nothing at all. So, in your opinion, what could be the impact of this decision when 90% of the populations affected by the increase in fuel prices are not beneficiaries?
As for the increase in the amount of family allowances, it also does not meet the expectations of Cameroonians, given that only the children of employed parents with a registration number or affiliated to the CNPS are beneficiaries.
A decree from the Prime Minister signed on February 23 sets the SMIG at 43,969 CFA francs. This amount is completely out of step with the 100,000 CFA francs proposed by the unionists. What reading do you make of it?
The government of Cameroon as it functions clearly demonstrates that it is outdated. By brushing aside the proposal of 100,000 CFA francs made by the Platform made up of 11 trade union confederations out of the 12 that exist to date in Cameroon (CAWOF) on the basis of official statistics from the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Without having ensured that this measure is applied, he is already brandishing the SMIG which had just been capped at 43,969 CFA francs by the Prime Minister, we do not know on what basis, nor in what framework and even less with which interlocutor. Even if the revision of the SMIG were effective, what percentage of the working population would benefit? When we know that more than 80% of the active population works in the informal sector. You therefore agree with me that all this only contributes to the distraction of the people, who we want to give the impression of being concerned about their problems.
And yet, the government has a range of solutions that can enable it to improve the daily lives and living conditions of Cameroonians.
Can you tell us more about the measures you have just cited?
Indeed, among these measures we have:
the reduction in the Government’s lifestyle which involves reducing the number of ministries, including the salaries and other exorbitant benefits that these drain;
The removal of the majority of irrelevant taxes which have constituted the structure of fuel prices for years;
The review of the treatment of parliamentarians who benefit not only from monthly remuneration as if they were employees, but above all from additional funding under the pretext of supporting communities;
The reconstruction of SONARA so that Cameroon, a producing country since 1967, can finally refine its oil and stops importing fuel and all other petroleum products, etc.
