The current parliamentary session schedule in Cameroun has come under scrutiny from journalist Guibai Gatama, who questions whether the National Assembly can effectively fulfill its constitutional responsibilities with just three annual sessions of 30 days each.

Guibai Gatama challenges the operational framework of Cameroun’s National Assembly. The journalist argues that the existing parliamentary calendar—limited to three 30-day ordinary sessions per year—fails to provide lawmakers with adequate time to perform essential duties such as government oversight, legislative voting, and citizen representation.

In practice, he notes, plenary sessions often last only about two weeks per session, translating to roughly six weeks of productive work annually. This, he contends, falls short of addressing the country’s pressing political, economic, and social challenges.

To support his position, Guibai Gatama draws comparisons with several African nations. He highlights that parliaments in Chad, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire operate for eight to nine months annually, while Nigeria’s legislature functions nearly year-round.

Calls for a national debate on parliamentary session duration

The journalist argues that the National Assembly appears “disconnected from the nation’s realities.” As founder of The Eye of the Sahel newspaper, he advocates for a national discussion on reforming the legislative calendar. Such reforms, he suggests, would enhance public accountability, improve legislative scrutiny, and align institutions more closely with citizens’ daily concerns.