The effectiveness of Cameroon’s legislative body is drawing sharp criticism from journalist Guibai Gatama. He is questioning whether the current parliamentary session structure truly enables lawmakers to fulfill their constitutional duties.
Limited parliamentary time raises governance concerns
Guibai Gatama points out that Cameroon’s National Assembly currently operates under a restrictive schedule—just three ordinary sessions of 30 days each per year. This limited timeframe, he argues, severely constrains the parliament’s ability to conduct meaningful oversight of government actions, deliberate on legislation, and represent citizens’ interests.
In practice, daily plenary sessions often last only about two weeks per session, meaning MPs have barely a month and a half of substantive legislative work annually. According to Gatama, this arrangement falls short when facing the nation’s pressing political, economic, and social challenges.
Comparing regional parliamentary calendars
The journalist highlights disparities between Cameroon and other African nations. He notes that countries like Chad, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire maintain parliamentary sessions for eight to nine months per year, while Nigeria’s legislature remains in session for nearly the entire calendar year. These examples underscore what Gatama sees as Cameroon’s comparatively minimal legislative engagement.
Call for reform and extended debate
Gatama is urging for an open national discussion on revising the parliamentary calendar. He believes extending session durations would strengthen public oversight, improve legislative scrutiny, and help bridge the gap between government institutions and citizens’ daily concerns. The current arrangement, he suggests, makes the National Assembly appear disconnected from national priorities.
