A joint press conference was held with the Minister of Communication, Government Spokesman, and five other ministers in the auditorium of the Ministry of Communication on Tuesday February 6
Sequel to the new price readjustment of certain petroleum products, the Cameroonian government is implementing a series of measures to mitigate the effects of this increase on the population. This was the subject of a joint press conference held by the Minister of Communication, René Emmanuel SADI, accompanied by his government colleagues.
Following the partial lifting of state subsidies on petroleum products, and the subsequent readjustment of super and diesel prices, Ministers Louis Paul MOTAZE of Finance, Grégoire Owona of Labor and Social Security, Gaston ELOUNDOU ESSOMBA of Water and Energy Resources, Luc Magloire MBARGA ATANGANA of Trade and Jean Ernest MASSENA NGALLE BIBEHE of Transport, came to clarify, or better assure the public of the measures taken by the Government of Cameroon.
In his opening remarks, the Government Spokesperson, René Emmanuel SADI rightly reminded the audience that the 15% increase in the price of these products concerns only Gasoil and Super. Prices for domestic gas and kerosene remain unchanged. « The latest adjustments to the prices of certain petroleum products at the pump were essential to preserve our budget balances, but they were also made at a level that preserves the purchasing power of the population », assured the Minister of Communication.
To mitigate the effects of this readjustment, the Government plans to introduce palliative measures, including a 5% increase in the basic salaries of civil servants and state employees; to engage in dialogue with the private sector with a view to increasing the Guaranteed Minimum Professional Wage (SMIG); and to reduce certain taxes and customs duties in the road transport sector. MINCOM also called for civic-mindedness on the part of the population, and especially traders, with regard to speculation and artificial shortages.
Taking the floor, the Minister of Finance reassured the audience that « the State is already ready to implement these measures, and from February onwards, they will be felt ». In the meantime, dialogue with private sector players will lead to a consensus on the minimum wage for workers.
The Minister of Water and Energy Resources, Gaston ELOUNDOU ESSOMBA, reassured consumers that despite these new prices, the country will continue to be supplied. SONARA, which is in debt, is seeking partners for its reconstruction, and innovations are planned.
The members of the government, meeting before the national press, all called on the population to embrace the measures announced, and to show greater civic-mindedness. As for the players in the economic sector, they asked them to respect the prices indicated in order to avoid speculation, while inviting them to show greater integrity and economic patriotism. The State, for its part, undertook to find solutions to guarantee better living conditions for the population.