Tamfu Simon Fai, North West PIC Brandishing 2025 Report.Tamfu Simon Fai, the Public Independent Conciliator for the North West Region on Tuesday February 24, 2026, unveiled the 2025 Annual Report of the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator, presenting what he described as an unfiltered assessment of governance in the North-West Region.
Addressing regional authorities, media executives and civil society actors at the auditorium of his office in Bamenda, the Public Independent Conciliator declared that accountability, fairness and respect for citizens’ rights must define the next phase of decentralization in the region.
The 273-page report, submitted to the President of the Republic on February 5, 2026, and published within the legal timeframe prescribed by Decree No. 2020/773 of 24 December 2020, examines the performance of the North-West Regional Assembly and 35 local councils from January to December 2025. It is the fifth such report since the institution became operational.
“We are here in strict compliance with the law,” Tamfu Simon Fai said. “Our responsibility is to ensure that citizens receive equitable treatment from the institutions established to serve them.”
Oversight in Action
Established under Law No. 2019/024 instituting the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities, the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator functions as a watchdog over regional and council administrations. Its core mandate is to investigate complaints against councils, promote amicable resolution of disputes and safeguard citizens against discrimination, abuse and maladministration.
In 2025, the office received 47 complaints, resolving 30 of them while the remainder continue under review. According to the report, monitoring mechanisms were strengthened through regular field reports from community-based assistants and quarterly submissions from mayors across the region. A large-scale perception survey involving 7,000 questionnaires provided- additional insight into how citizens evaluate their local authorities.
The Conciliator stressed that these layers of oversight provide a panoramic view of governance realities on the ground. “We see where progress is being made,” he noted, “and we see where serious gaps persist.”
Regional Assembly Under Scrutiny
The report acknowledges that the North-West Regional Assembly recorded a relatively high rate of project realization in 2025, signaling operational momentum. Yet the Conciliator warned that performance remains uneven and that weaknesses in cultural heritage protection, a central legal mandate undermine the Assembly’s broader transformative potential.
Survey findings reveal that while a majority of respondents believe decisions of the Assembly reflect deliberations, a significant minority expressed concerns about imposed decisions and limited implementation-. Such perceptions, the report argues, point to governance vulnerabilities that must be addressed early to prevent institutional stagnation.
Structural limitations continue to hamper effectiveness. The suspension of recruitment of permanent staff, the absence of a Local Public Service Code and insufficient clarity regarding the powers and responsibilities of certain organs within the Assembly remain pressing concerns. Without stronger institutional frameworks, the Conciliator cautioned, decentralization risks becoming symbolic rather than substantive.
Councils: Gains Amid Persistent Fault Lines
At the level of local authorities, the 2025 report paints a complex picture. Several councils intensified communication with citizens through town hall meetings, radio programs and community engagement platforms. Participatory development initiatives increased, and project execution rates showed improvement, partly due to a relative easing of insecurity in some areas.
These gains, the Conciliator suggested, were not accidental. They followed a sustained Good Governance Campaign spearheaded by his office, alongside capacity-building workshops for regional officials, council development officers and civil society representatives.
Yet beneath the progress lies a pattern of recurring dysfunction. Salary arrears stretching up to 14 months in some councils, disparities in wage scales and unpaid national insurance contributions continue to erode worker morale and public confidence. Revenue collection practices remain opaque in certain municipalities, with allegations of irregularities and weak accountability mechanisms.
The report also revisits longstanding concerns over civil status documentation. Despite legal reforms aimed at guaranteeing the free establishment of civil status documents, instances of unofficial charges, shortages of registration booklets and commercialization of marriage certificates persist. According to the Conciliator, such practices undermine both legality and public trust.
Compounding these governance challenges is the region’s fragile security context. Ghost towns, election-related tensions and insecurity continue to disrupt administrative operations and limit councils’ physical presence in some localities. In certain areas, citizens reportedly face competing tax demands, placing additional strain on already vulnerable communities.
Institutional Growth and Expanding Partnerships
Beyond oversight, 2025 was also a year of institutional consolidation for the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator. The institution finalized key policy documents, including a Complaints Treatment Manual and a Harmonized Ethical Guide for Regional and Council Services. Partnerships with national and international actors were strengthened, and construction of a permanent headquarters building in Bamenda advanced steadily.
Tamfu Simon Fai described these developments as essential to reinforcing the office’s autonomy and long-term operational capacity. He reiterated calls for the integration of the office’s budget into the State Budget and for the creation of divisional antennas to bring services closer to rural populations.
A Firm Warning and a Hopeful Outlook
While acknowledging that oversight is not always welcomed by those under scrutiny, the Conciliator was unequivocal about his office’s resolve.
“Accountability is the cornerstone of good governance,” he declared. “We will continue to uphold our authority and autonomy in the service of the people.”
He expressed appreciation for regional and local officials who continue to operate under challenging security conditions but insisted that sacrifice must be matched by transparency, ethical conduct and measurable results.
As the 2025 Annual Report enters the public domain, attention now turns to whether its recommendations will translate into concrete reforms. For Tamfu Simon Fai, the stakes are clear.
“Our mission is to ensure that citizens enjoy their rights and that local authorities fulfil their responsibilities. The future of decentralization in the North-West Region depends on it.”
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