CPDM mayor fires 20 suspected SDF staff

From Michael Ndi in Bamenda

The intestinal conflict between the CPDM and the SDF which characterized the September 30, 2013 twin elections in Nkambe central sub division in Donga Mantung division has taken a twist for the worse with the recent sacking of some twenty council staff; believed to be supporters of the opposition SDF.

Reports have it that the CPDM had since taking over the management of the Nkambe council declared war against suspected SDF militants. Matters however came to a head when recently, the CPDM mayor for Nkambe, Ngabir Paul laid off some twenty suspected SDF militants; claiming that the council was over-staffed. The dismissal letter also accused the victims of violating the 1966 regulation which forbids council staff from politicking.

The Guardian Post has it on good authority that fourteen of those  sacked are band boys and girls who were trained and recruited in the Nkambe municipal band. The council band, it should be mentioned, was bought and offered to the Nkambe council (formerly SDF-run) by the SDF MP for Nkambe, Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprain. The sacked band boys and girls, sources say, were on a monthly stipend of 25.000FCFA each.

In one of the Nkambe municipal decision letters signed by the first deputy mayor, Shey Emmanuel Yunwe, dated May 14, 2014, to one of the victims, Sajoh Amidu Yerima, he pointed out the irregularities which warranted his (Sajoh Amidu) sacking.

Citing Article 2305 of the local government regulation of 1966 which has not been repealed, the deputy mayor reminded Sajoh Amidu that council staff are not allowed to take part directly or indirectly in anything which may be reasonably regarded as being political : “You have made a reasoned choice to pay more allegiance to your party (SDF) than your job by accepting to be your party’s flag bearer on the ELECAM commission. We therefore, have no reason to stop granting your wish”. He said sometimes ago, Sajoh Amidu appeared before him alongside the district chairman of his party with an obscure invitation to attend some social functions of the SDF “and I was challenged whether to treat you as a staff or a political opponent. We reserve the right to request a refund of the four months’ salary you have earned since January 2014 to date”.

The sacked council perminent staff are; Sajoh Amidu Yerima, Nsa Idirisu, Memona Mbobu, Nfor Victor Ngi, Ndi Elvis Tum, Shey Bah Eric and Ngwayi Ivo shey, Kumbonsi Richard Sunde, Ndinjo Gaston Njong, Koni Oliver Mbong, Biyo Agnes, Kwah Ndangand, Sera Susan Shey, Yinikeh Odosia Kimbi, Ngwanyu Vivian Nfor, Tata Franklin Tamu, Ndi Rita Manje and Yinkfu Immaculate. 

On June 6, 2014, the affected council workers wrote to the supervisory authority of the council, the SDO for Donga Mantung, under the subject; “Petition for the cancelation of the irregular municipal orders” and pleaded for his intervention to right the wrong committed by the CPDM council management.

 Reacting to the Nkambe council saga, the interim president of the Association of North West Councillors, Fon Martin Yembe who doubles as the first deputy mayor of the Ndu SDF-run council, observed that the authorities of Nkambe council have violated Cameroon’s labour code with impunity and risk paying dearly for the decision.

While describing the decision of the Nkambe CPDM mayor as being closer to primitivity, Yembe Martin sustained that : “The Ndu council which is run by the SDF party has continued to accommodate the pro-CPDM staff it inherited when it took over management of the municipality in 1996.’’

It should be recalled that shortly after taking over the management of the Santa council from the SDF, Mayor Kan Elroy Moses sacked some suspected SDF council staff but was ordered by the SDO for Mezam to reinstate them.

The witch-hunting, blackmail and open confrontation amongst the Nkambe CPDM and SDF militants kick-started during the 2013 twin election where several SDF and CPDM militants were attacked with several wounded and hospitalized. Till date, court cases bordering around that conflict are still on-going at the Nkambe court of first instance.