Cameroon Public Utilities Forum

Utilities Bill/Act 2009

• Bill preparation in progress

• Tabling in Parliament, November 2009

• Parliamentary Rules and Ways of Working

• Support the Bill

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Bill Preparation in progress

The purpose of the bill is to expedite response to customer demands in utility services and facilitate growth so all can be adequately served as needed at the least cost in the shortest time possible. We are identifying and seeking to expunge, through this bill, legal provisions in our current laws that scare people from seeking justice when they have legitimate utility service complaints. The bill will also outline the strategies, activities and funding we are proposing to get Constitutionally mandated supply of utility services to everyone, without discrimination, in specific time periods - two (2) years in areas where there is substantial but under-performing investments as we have in Kumba and four (4) years in other areas requiring more time to canvas, rally and work with the needed investments - all over the national territory of Cameroon.

Our public education campaigns present and discuss our proposals continually with people of various needs and interests, in language that is clear and understandable. We are always interested in and respect your views on or experiences with utility services. We would be delighted to engage you in honest and open two-way dialogues to inform and progress preparation of the bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament come November 2008. Click here to contact us now.

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Tabling of Bill, November 2009

We are working to have the Cameroon Utilities Act 2009 bill tabled during the November session of Parliament in Yaounde. Getting decent utility services to everybody in Cameroon without discrimination, nearly fifty years after the country gained political independence, must be treated as an emergency. We would like the government to adopt and present the bill as part of its business in the November session of Parliament. Failing this, and with your support, we expect the bill to be tabled and passed as a private Member's bill.

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Parliamentary Rules and Ways of Working

Bills are tabled in Parliament either as part of government business or as private Member's bills. The bills have to go past the Chairmen's Conference, which sets the agenda of Parliament, to the floor or plenary session of the House, where the bills will be debated briefly before being assigned to Committees for detailed scrutiny. Bills from Committees come back to the floor of the House for further discussions and possible adoption. The President of the Republic has to sign the bill into law once it has been considered and adopted in Parliament.

Members of Parliament can be under a lot of pressure all through the passage of bills. For example, their political parties might want them to consider or vote for bills in particular ways, that may not be in your interests. The parliamentarians can have other concerns and would like to make their cases stronger than those of their opponents. They also have to accept compromises, sometimes. You have to encourage parliamentarians to make sure they treat your interests fairly.

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Support the Bill

The Cameroon Utilities Act 2009 bill seeks to address utility problems we know are of interest to people like yourself, your family and other relations. Help us to get the bill right. Let us know your views on and experiences with utility services, whether the bill tackles your utility issues well or how they can be addressed adequately. Cameroon elected officials (in and out of Parliament) also need to hear from you, and from as many of your friends and relatives as possible. Communicate your utility service concerns with the President of the Republic, Members of Parliament, Mayors and Counsellors. Learn how you can do so effectively, in writing and in person, to ensure the bill's development and safe passage into law.  Click here to contact us now.