THE FINAL BURIAL OF DECENTRALIZATION AND FEDERALISM IN CAMEROON
WHERE IS DECENTRALIZATION NOT TO TALK OF FEDERALISM NOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS OFFICIALLY TAKEN AWAY THE POWER OF COUNCILS TO COLLECT LOCAL TAXES
The Cameroonian government has officially removed the power of councils and city councils to collect local taxes and duties.
This decision was taken by the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze, and the Minister of Decentralisation, Georges Elanga Obam, following the new local tax law signed in December 2024.
Before now, councils were responsible for collecting some local taxes, fees, and charges. But under the new reform, that responsibility now belongs mainly to State tax services under the Directorate General of Taxation.
Councils will now only help by identifying taxpayers, sharing information with State tax officials, monitoring tax collection, and preparing reports.
This means the central government is taking back stronger control over local finances.
The reform could also affect many agreements linked to advertising taxes and billboard fees previously managed by some city councils.
In addition, any new local tax monitoring unit created by a council must first be approved by the State representative.
Many people believe this reform could restart debates about whether decentralisation in Cameroon is truly effective, since councils are losing an important part of their financial powers
THE FINAL BURIAL OF DECENTRALIZATION AND FEDERALISM IN CAMEROON
