Local Dev’t Ministry Trains NW Mayors On Decentralisation Innovations
By Kimbi Lionel
The Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development, has trained mayors in the North West Region on the innovations of decentralisation.
The training focused on the management of basic social services, decentralized cooperation, inter-council collaboration and partnerships.
This was the focus of a capacity training of council executives which started on Wednesday and will end today July 7.
Dr James Wung, Head of Translation and Bilingualism Promotion Division at MINDDEVEL and representative of the Minister of Decentralization and Local Development, told the press that, the training had long been awaited given that the General Code on Regional and Local authorities states that once mayors are elected into office, there is need to initially train them so that they can be better equipped to perform their roles.
According to Cho Ngu Ernest, Director of Human Resource for the Regional and Local authorities, the 15% that the state gives to regional and local authorities is far more than it. He said authorities are working to mobilise resources to make it effective.
“The 15% refers to one particular aspect because the general code created what we call a general decentralization fund and this 15% in the general decentralization fund is far less than what the state mobilises every year for the benefit of councils”, he said while addressing Mayors.
He added that regional and local authorities as at now cannot levy taxes as the tax law does not permit them. Ngu disclosed that , a draft bill on fiscality shall be adopted which will now permit regional and local authorities to levy taxes and generate revenue.
Day two of the training focused on the organisation and functioning of councils, human resource management in regional and local authorities, financial regime and financial management of regional and local authorities, and local planning and implementation of the projects of regional and local authorities
