The Social Democratic Front (SDF) criticized the imposition of illegal fees for public services in Cameroon’s South Region and highlighted wasteful spending on administrative luxuries. Citizens are forced to pay for services meant to be free, while administrators enjoy extravagant lifestyles. The SDF proposed cost-effective solutions to enhance public service delivery, urging the government for necessary reforms to ensure transparency and accountability.
On January 16, 2025, the South Regional Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) in Cameroon condemned the illegal fees imposed on citizens for public services that are supposed to be free. In a correspondence directed to Governor Felix Nguele Nguele, the opposition party raised concerns about administrative practices that burden the public while enabling administrators to lead lavish lifestyles.
The SDF reported that individuals across the South Region’s 29 subdivisions are coerced into paying between 5,000 and 7,000 CFA francs for various administrative services, such as document preparation. Those who refuse to comply with these payments may have their paperwork rejected, and there is an additional requirement for citizens to cover the costs of sending files to law enforcement agencies. This situation is aggravated by inadequate office supplies, as local secretariats lack essential equipment including computers and printers, further hindered by frequent power outages.
The stark disparity between the opulent lifestyles of region administrators and the lack of essential services for citizens prompted criticism from the SDF. Each sub-prefect is reportedly assigned a government vehicle worth around 50 million CFA francs, along with benefits including housing and fuel allowances. The total expenditure on vehicles for sub-prefects in the South Region amounts to 1.45 billion CFA francs, while a modest investment in basic equipment would only require 750 million CFA francs.
In response, the SDF has recommended a more efficient allocation of resources. They propose that instead of purchasing a single vehicle for 50 million CFA francs, the government could invest those funds into 29 desktop computers, printers, backup generators, and liaison motorcycles. The total cost for these essential tools would approximate 49.3 million CFA francs, which would significantly enhance public service delivery while minimizing costs.
The correspondence from the SDF advocates for sweeping reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency in public administration and facilitating equal access to services for all citizens. The proposal emphasizes redirecting resources toward fundamental infrastructure to alleviate the financial strain caused by illegal fees. The challenge remains whether the government will embrace these proposed measures for improved accountability and transparency in public administration in Cameroon.
The Social Democratic Front (SDF) is an opposition political party in Cameroon that raises concerns regarding illegal fees and wasteful expenditure in the South Region. Public services that are legally meant to be offered free of charge are burdened with fees, thus affecting many citizens. The SDF’s criticism also touches upon the disparity between administrative expenditures for vehicles compared to funding for basic office necessities, indicating systemic issues within public administration that require reform.
The SDF’s criticism highlights critical concerns regarding the illegal financial burdens imposed on Cameroon’s citizens for public services and the wasteful spending on administrative luxuries. The party’s proposals illustrate a prudent approach to resource allocation that promises to improve public administration efficiency while ensuring essential services are accessible to all citizens. This call for reform faces the imperative challenge of governmental response and action to address the highlighted issues.
Original Source: www.cameroon-concord.com
