Journalist Guibai Gatama has raised concerns about Cameroon’s current parliamentary session structure, questioning whether the National Assembly can effectively meet its constitutional obligations with just three annual sessions of 30 days each.

Gatama argues that the existing parliamentary calendar—limited to three 30-day sessions per year—does not provide lawmakers sufficient time to properly oversee government actions, pass legislation, or represent citizens’ interests. He highlights that in practice, plenary sessions often last only about 15 days per session, totaling roughly a month and a half of active work annually.

The journalist emphasizes that this limited timeframe falls short in addressing Cameroon’s pressing political, economic, and social challenges. To support his critique, Gatama compares Cameroon’s parliamentary schedule with neighboring countries like Chad, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire, where legislatures operate for eight to nine months per year, and Nigeria, where Parliament functions nearly year-round.

Advocating for expanded parliamentary sessions in Cameroon

Gatama, founder of the newspaper L’Œil du Sahel, calls for a comprehensive debate on extending parliamentary sessions. He believes that reforming the legislative calendar would enhance public oversight, improve lawmaking processes, and better align institutions with citizens’ daily concerns. The journalist argues that Cameroon’s National Assembly currently appears “detached from the nation’s realities,” and a longer session schedule would help bridge this gap.