In Cameroun, the current parliamentary calendar—limited to three annual sessions of 30 days each—has raised serious questions about the National Assembly’s ability to fulfill its constitutional duties. Journalist Guibai Gatama argues that this structure leaves lawmakers with insufficient time to properly oversee government actions, review legislation, and address citizen concerns.

The journalist highlights that, in practice, plenary sessions often last only about half of each scheduled 30-day session, resulting in barely six weeks of substantive legislative work per year. This, he contends, falls far short of what is needed to tackle the country’s pressing political, economic, and social challenges.

To underscore his concerns, Guibai Gatama points to neighboring African nations where parliamentary sessions run significantly longer. He cites Chad, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire, where lawmakers meet for eight to nine months annually, as well as Nigeria, where the National Assembly operates nearly year-round.

Call for reform: extending parliamentary sessions in Cameroun

Describing the National Assembly as operating “on the fringes of the nation,” the journalist argues that reforming the legislative calendar is essential. He believes extending session durations would enhance government oversight, improve lawmaking processes, and better align institutions with the daily realities faced by citizens. Without such changes, he warns, the Assembly risks remaining disconnected from the very communities it is meant to serve.