Cameroon’s parliamentary session structure under scrutiny

Journalist Guibai Gatama has raised concerns about the effectiveness of Cameroon’s National Assembly, pointing to its limited three annual sessions of 30 days each. This schedule, he argues, prevents lawmakers from fulfilling their core constitutional responsibilities: government oversight, lawmaking, and citizen representation.

In reality, plenary sittings often last only about two weeks per session, meaning lawmakers spend roughly just one and a half months in active session throughout the year. Gatama believes this is inadequate given the pressing political, economic, and social challenges facing the country.

To illustrate his point, he compares Cameroon’s parliamentary calendar with those of other African nations. He notes that Chad, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire hold sessions for eight to nine months annually, while Nigeria’s Parliament operates nearly year-round.

Calls for a parliamentary calendar reform in Cameroon

Gatama, founder of *L’Œil du Sahel*, argues that Cameroon’s National Assembly appears disconnected from national priorities. He advocates for a comprehensive debate on extending parliamentary session duration, stating that a reformed legislative calendar would enhance public policy oversight, improve the legislative process, and bring institutions closer to the daily concerns of citizens.