PIC SENSITIZES BAMENDA II COUNCIL

The Public Independent Conciliator North West Region carried its information and sensitization of councils to Bamenda II on Friday 6th October 2023. The purpose was to meet with the local population with Bamenda II municipality in order to sensitize and educate them on the mission and vision of the office of the Public Independent Conciliator North West Region.

Two Research Officers, Ndi Nelson and Yang Francis as well as Executive Officer Nina Ambuban delivered presentations to enlighten council executive staff, councilors themselves, council workers and users of council services on their rights and responsibilities.

The Mayor of Bamenda II Chenwi Peter was delighted about the visit of the team of experts from the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator.

Research Officer Ndi Nelson explained the objective of the sensitization visit. The presentations included The Public Independent Conciliator: Creation, Mission and Functioning by Yang Francis; The Functioning of Regions and Councils: The Law and Practice by Ndi Nelson and The Complaint Management Procedure by Nina Ambuban.

In his presentation, Yang Francis dwelled on the Public Independent Conciliator (as the leader and the structure of the institution). He explained the position of the Office in the life of users of council services and elaborated on the measures taken by the Public Independent Conciliator to ensure that councils function well.

Research Officer Ndi Nelson spoke elaborately on the mission of the Public Independent Conciliator; as well as checking council functioning in accordance with Law No. 2019/024 of 24 December 2019 to Institute the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities.

The Mayor of Bamenda II Council was urged to ensure that council services were carried out in strict compliance with the decentralization code which prescribes fairness, void of discrimination.

The presentation on complaints management by Nina Ambuban enabled quarter heads and traditional authorities in attendance to understand better the amicable handling of some cases by the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator.

She cited some challenges faced by the Office to include the delay by mayors to respond to invitations or failure to respect their own appointments. Persons who wish to complain against their council were advised to talk it out with the mayor first, and complain to the Public Independent Conciliator only if the discussion with the mayor fails to resolve the matter.

The sensitization in Bamenda II Council featured a question an answer session with intense participation by the audience. Worries were expressed about possibilities of conflict of interests by the Office and Senior Divisional Officers, land and chieftaincy issues, as well as learning more about the ongoing campaign to promote free civil status registration.

The team from the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator used the occasion to administer some questionnaires on the functioning of Bamenda II Council.