The North West Regional Assembly began its December budgetary session on Monday with deliberations centred on the 2026 financial year, a package projected at more than 14 billion francs. The sitting, which runs from 8 to 11 December at the Assembly’s headquarters, is expected to define development priorities for all seven divisions in the year ahead.
Councillors entered the session with a clear brief of assessing the gains and gaps of 2025 and align next year’s resources to critical sectors including infrastructure, education, health, the economy and community development. The outcome will guide investment decisions and shape service delivery across the region.
The Assembly received three technical presentations that set the tone for the debates. The Regional Delegate for Secondary Education, Baijong Ezekiel Ndifon, presented the education map, noting enrolment trends, the uneven distribution of schools and ongoing shortages in infrastructure and staff. He emphasised the need for targeted funding to expand access and address pressure points in fast-growing communities.
The Regional Delegate for Public Health, Dr Lionel Ambe, followed with the health map, outlining gaps in service coverage and the facilities requiring urgent upgrades. He highlighted priority interventions for 2026, particularly in primary health care and essential equipment.
The Assembly’s Project Manager, Alombah Anderson Akondi, reported on project execution, citing progress under the Peace and Development Initiative and other ongoing works. He pointed to delays linked to security constraints and funding needs, urging sustained investment to maintain momentum.
Several flagship projects feature prominently in the proposed budget, including the construction of the Mutan regional market, plans for a dry port and a series of infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving mobility and access to social services across divisions.
Committee sessions continued through the day, allowing councillors to fine-tune sector priorities before the budget vote. The Assembly will also admit new members elected on 30 November, who are expected to take their seats as of right on 16 December.
The leadership says public engagement is essential to strengthen transparency, accountability and the broader effort to advance decentralisation under the theme “Strengthening Decentralisation through the 2026 Budget.”
By Bakah Derick with reports for Hilltopvoices Online
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