Inter-Ministerial Committee on Local Services : Innovations For Fruitful Decentralisation

President Paul Biya on November 9, 2020 signed a decree to lay down the organisation and functioning of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Local Services. The decree which repeals all provisions of the January 17, 2008 decree, gives more functions to the Committee in order to enable it align with the Code on Regional and Local Authorities. Modifications on the decree are on the general provisions, organisation and functioning of the Committee. 
On the general provisions, a new clause has been added to its responsiblity on preparing and following up the transfer of authority and resources to regional and local authorities. The additional responsibility thus indicates the Committee shall “monitor implementation by regional and local authorities of the authority transferred.”
As concerns the organisation, representatives of regions and City Councils in the Committee have been increased from two each to three. Two clauses have equally been added, giving more specificity on membership and participation in Committee sessions. One of the new clauses states that representatives of ministries shall attend Committee sessions to which they are officially convened, taking into account the implication of their ministries in an agenda item.  The second addition reads that representatives of regions, councils and city councils shall be designated by their peers while those of the civil society shall be designated by the Minister in charge of regional and local authorities.  
With regards to the functioning, four other responsibilities have been bestowed on the Technical Secretariat of the Committee. Its major responsibilities have thus been moved from eight to twelve. The additional responsibilities include; preparation and practical organisation of Committee meetings; preparing Committee accounts and reports; monitoring the collection of data and use of reports of regional and local authorities on th...