Role of PIC in the smooth functioning of councils detailed to Mayors in the North West region

By Martial Gnoukapasi

Mayors taking down notes during working session

The North West office of the Public Independent Conciliator will today Friday October 28 wrap up a two-day working seminar with Mayors and other local authorities of the 35 councils in the region.

The seminar organized by the aforementioned structure dubbed "Rights/ Duties and Ethical Compliance in Council functioning" seeks to build the capacity of mayors and their deputies to deliver on their very important missions while avoiding disputes and conflicts amongst themselves and with members of their respective communities.

Public Independent Conciliator in a group photo with mayors

At the opening Thursday October 27 at the conference hall of the office of the Public Independent Conciliator, the mayors amongst their many expectations expressed the the desire to master not just the relationship that exists between the councils and the office of the public Independent Conciliator, but the role the latter office plays in the smooth functioning of these councils as well.

They also sought to be edified on the laws and rights of citizens within their council areas and how they as head of these councils can embark on rights based programming of council activities and services.

Reason why Ndi Nelson, human right experts and research officer for Opic facilitating the workshop focused his first presentation on the generalities of rights and freedoms in council functioning, establishing how strict respect of these rights could help councils in preventing and mitigating conflicts and disputes amongst them and the population of respective municipalities.

To the Public Independent Conciliator Tamfu Simon Fai, the working session falls inline with a promise he made during the launching of activities of the PIC(Public Independent Conciliator) on January 19 2022, which is to "ensure the effectiveness of councils rather than sit and wait for complains about council functioning"

"The theme has been chosen because of the necessity to drill you on the cross cutting issues that constitute the core of the missions of the public Independent Conciliator.. the PIC is assigned the responsibilities to settle disputes amicably and propose statutory amendments to ensure the effective functioning of regional, city and local council administration and report to the presidency of the republic... We shall promote and protect the rights of citizens, users and beneficiary of council services, prevent direct and indirect discrimination and enforce ethical standards in regional and council functioning" he added.

The reason for emphasizing on the substantive mandate of the PIC according to the Conciliator is to rectify already existing misconception which says the structure has come to police councils in the region.

He however noted that with the cooperation of the councils, the office of the public Independent Conciliator has been able to treat over 90% of a total of 62 written complaints received so far, with amicable agreements reached between the councils and the complainants

By the end of the two-day seminar today Friday October 28 the participants are expected amass working knowledge on the generalities of rights, freedoms and duties, non-discrimination, inclusiveness and respect for diversity as well as right-based programming at their respective council levels.