CI-NEWS

NCPBM three years on: Successes and challenges.

2020-06-08

No: 501

NCPBM three years on: Successes and challenges.

No commission has impacted the lives of Cameroonians in so short a time as the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, NCPBM.

Created by presidential decree as an ad hoc consultative body to address the Anglophone Crisis, it has in the space of three years achieved what other commissions like CONAC and the human rights commission (NCHRF) have been unable to do in more years of their existence.

The towering images of the commission’s President, H.E. Peter Mafany Musonge, and Secretary General, Dr Chi Asafor Cornelius, may have accounted for the listening ear given by President Biya to its recommendations but by and large its concrete products and actions have worked in its favour.

The commission swung into action following the swearing-in of its members on 27 April 2017, but the NCPBM was given a veritable shot in the arm with the installation of its pioneer Secretary General, Dr Chi Asafor Cornelius, on 15 June 2017.

Legislation:

Perhaps the NCPBM stands tallest in the laws whose drafting and adoption in Parliament it has influenced.

The Law on the promotion of official Languages in Cameroon which was promulgated by the President of the Republic on 24 December 2019 is said to have been initiated by the NCPBM which saw the need for the application of Bilingualism which has been enshrined in Cameroon’s constitution since 1961 to be guided by a specific law.

Right after the promulgation, the NCPBM organised an ownership seminar on the law, for a better understanding of the legal instrument by its members, who will in turn raise public awareness on its merits.

The law lays emphasis on the fact that the official languages of Cameroon (French and English) shall be of equal value and citizens shall be served in the Public Administration in the language of their choice.

Aware that the press has a big role to play in the popularization of the law, the commission used the pages of especially English Language newspapers, and programmes on radio and TV stations in February 2020 to raise public awareness on its merits.

The NCPBM is also credited with bringing its weight to bear on the introduction of legislation to criminalise hate speech which is dangerous for the promotion of peace and living together in Cameroon. By this law the Penal Code has been modified to penalize hate speech.

Influencing the promulgation into law of these two pieces of legislation is an indication that the Musonge Commission has not just been existing but impacting the nation.

Impacting normal lives

During the commission’s meet-the-people’s tour in 1997, the populations for the North West and South West regions clamoured for a come-together of Cameroonians to deliberate on the way forward for the Anglophone crisis. That recommendation was contained in the NCPBM’s report submitted to the Head of State for action. The Major National Dialogue (MND) that held from 30 September to 4 October 2019, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, is similar to such a forum advocated by Anglophones.

Also contained in the resolutions submitted to President Biya after the meet-the-people’s tour was the creation of a bilingual news slot on radio. It is in response to this recommendation that the 5 pm bilingual newscast referred to as 17-18 (Dix Sept-Dix Huit) was created. The newscast, while it was only in French, gave undue advantage to French-speaking Cameroonians to get breaking news like appointment news. But with the introduction of a bilingual slot both Anglophones and Francophones are given equal opportunity to get breaking news.

Activities

Unlike other commissions which have just routine activities of writing reports and submitting to the authorities, the NCPBM has elevated itself to a veritable thinktank, churning out ideas that help government take action for the benefit of Cameroonians.

Realising that there were discrepancies in the use of the two official languages in ministries and state institutions, the NCPBM visited most of the offices of institutions that matter to call them to order. Because of the aura and awe surrounding the personalities on the commission, state authorities were prompt in making changes, especially in the domain of communication. Heads of state institutions immediately instructed their members of staff to communicate in both languages. Personnel at reception were drilled on how to serve users in their language of expression. To build the capacity of their workers in bilingualism, most of them were sent on training in both languages at the various Linguistic Centres. All of this was thanks to the eye-opener of NCPBM.

Not satisfied that their action was for the most part felt only in Yaounde, the commission is planning to go regional in order to consolidate national unity and living together regionally. The commission, by this step, noted its communication chief, Enow Joseph, wants every Cameroonian to feel the impact of its services. The Secretary General of the Commission has in this connection made trips to the North West, West, South West, Littoral and South regions scouting for offices to house the decentralized services of the commission. The fervour of this move has only been halted by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, in its avowed determination to build the capacity of members on best practices in the area of bilingualism and multiculturalism, the commission has undertaken benchmarking missions to Canada and Switzerland which also have bilingualism commissions and have similar conditions like Cameroon. What the Musonge Commission gathered from these missions was tabled to government to help improve on the practice of bilingualism, multiculturalism and living together.

Because of the credibility of the commission, its members have been honoured in terms of seeking their expertise. Many members of the commission were appointed on the various committees of the MND by dint of their expertise. The first member of the Committee for reconstruction of the North West and South West regions was the President of the NCPBM, recalled Enow. “Recognition proves our worthiness,” boasted the NCPBM communication chief.

He added that by constantly making reference to the Musonge Commission’s role in bringing stability during his addresses to the nation, the President of the Republic is giving it more responsibility and bestowing it more confidence.

Challenges:

Unfortunately, despite the heavy responsibility assigned to the NCPBM, its budget is inversely proportional to its services rendered. From a handout of 700 million given the commission in its first year of operation, its endowment moved to slightly above 3 billion in the second year, but again dropped in 2020 due to government’s readjustment plan.

Despite not having an impressive war chest, the commission is still delivering on its services.

It has, however, been partly hampered by lack of adequate means to get its regional offices operational.

Because of its tight budget, the Secretary General, by dint of his experience as a controller, has embarked on a phased acquisition of the automobile fleet of the commission. He has prioritized buying of cars to commission members by public tender, according to the budget of the commission.

The shortage of means pushed the SG to forgo a service car in order to satisfy commission members first in waves. Though his action is managerially expedient, it still draws criticism from detractors who accuse him of discrimination.

To this, the communication chief assured: “We provide services according to what we have in hand. Everything is done according to budget allocation. Progressively, all members will be served without discrimination”.

And so a commission created to act as consultant/adviser to the President of the Republic has outgrown that restrictive role to become n a veritable think-tank, impacting the lives of all Cameroonians in so short a time. By dint of the credibility built within three years, more responsibility will in the coming days be given it. Cameroonians are therefore dreaming of the day when the commission will be inscribed in the country’s constitution and given the powers to enforce all its decisions.

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NCPBM three years on: Successes and challenges.