Joe Dinga Pefok (Uncle Joe)
Minister Of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, Had In A Communiqué A Few Years Back, Stated That Financial Allocations Are Made To Administrative Authorities For National Day Celebration. But At This Year’s Occasion In Misaje Sub –Division For Example, Money Was Collected Even, From Health Facilities, ELECAM – Misaje, Central Mosque Etc.
A few years ago, the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, issued a communiqué warning administrative authorities across the country, to desist from the illegal practice of collecting money from the public in their different administrative units, in the name of funds for the National Day Celebration in their localities.
The Territorial Administration Minister had stated in the communiqué, that each year, the Government, or better still the State, makes financial allocations to all administrative authorities across the country, to take care of the National Day Celebration in their different administrative units or at their different levels. The minister thus said it was illegal and unfair, for administrative authorities to again go collecting money from the population of their different administrative units (Regions, Division and Sub – divisions), in the name of the National Day Celebration, giving the false impression that the Government does not send any funds to them to handle the celebration of the National Day in their administrative units.
But several administrative authorities, especially those in the rural areas, have continued to defy the warning of the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, who is their boss, and have continued to collect money from the local population of their different administrative units, in the name of National Day Celebration. This malpractice again happened at this year’s National Day Celebration that took place on May 20, 2026.
The Case Of Misaje In Donga And Mantung Division
In the countdown to this year’s National Day Celebration in Misaje Sub – division , Donga and Mantung Division in the Northwest Region, for example, the local administrative authority, or better still the DO, launched an operation to collect funds from the public, purportedly , or in the name of the National Day Celebration. But the DO and his close collaborators at the Misaje Sub – divisional Office, tried to play smart, to avoid directly collecting the funds as used to happen in the past. This time around, the Principal of one of the Government colleges in the Misaje Sub – division, Magdaline Chu EKei , with MOMO Number 675 37 49 51, was designated to collect the money. All those that contacted the DO’s Office with their contributions, were directed to the lady or to her MOMO number.
The Mentor News laid hands on the list of 47 institutions, associations and individuals in Misaje Sub –division that sent their contributions to Madam Ekei, for the National Day Celebration. The contributions were titled, “CONTRIBUTIONS IN VIEW OF THE 2026 NATIONAL DAY”. Contributions were received from the three political parties that were officially programmed to take part in the 20th May March – Past in Misaje, which included the Paul Biya’s CPDM, Hamadou Moustapha’s ANDP and Bochong El Hadj Lawan Bako’s United Democratic Party (UNDP).
Contributions By Fons And Colleges
Contributions also came from traditional authorities like the Fon of Dumbu, Fon of Nkanchi, Fon of Kwei, Fon of Bebajato, Fon of Bem, Fon of Bebekette, Fon of Nfume, as well as from Fon Kiyu Franklin. Associations or groups like the Butchers Union Dumbu, Drivers Union Misaje, Achaba Union Dumbu, and Achaba Union Misaje also contributed. A number of individuals or some local personalities in Misaje Sub – division contributed as well.
As usual, Government colleges in Misaje Sub –division, were all obliged to contribute. They included: GTC Kibbo (10,000 FCFA), GTC Dumbu (10,000 FCFA), GHS Dumbu (15,000 FCFA), GTHS Misaje ( 15,000 FCFA), GHS Changeh (15,000 FCFA), and GBHS Misaje (15,000 FCFA). Some Sub –divisional Delegations like the Sub – divisional Delegation of Agriculture, Fisheries, Sports and Physical Education, made contributions.
Health Facilities Were Forced To Make Contributions
The most disturbing cases were certainly the contributions that were squeezed from health facilities in Misaje Sub –division. The health facilities included: Misaje District Hospital (25,000 FCFA), Dumbu Health Centre (15,000 FCFA), Chungeh Integrated Health Centre (15,000 FCFA), Overcomers Health Service Kidung (10,000 FCFA), CBC Health Post Dumbu (5000 FCFA). Misaje District Health Services (20,000 FCFA). Besides health facilities, the Misaje Central Mosque made a contribution of 5000 FCFA.
Come to think of it, that even ELECAM Misaje, also had to contribute money for the National Day Celebration in Misaje. ELECAM Misaje gave 10,000 FCFA. The most pathetic case was definitely the Youth Parliamentarian from Misaje, who contributed 2000 FCFA (Two thousand francs CFA). His name was not mentioned. It was simply written as Youth Parliamentarian on the list. The Youth Parliamentarian is very likely a student, and the 2000 FCFA he contributed most probably came from his pocket allowance or ‘food money” that his parents gave him.
Another disturbing question about some of these contributions is under what budgetary heads, did the health facilities in Misaje Sub – division, as well as State institutions like ELECAM – Misaje, get the money that they contributed in the name of National Day Celebration in Misaje. Under what budgetary head for example, did the Director or head of the Misaje District Hospital, or the Chief of Dumbu Health Centre, get the money that they gave as their institution’s contribution for the National Day Celebration in Misaje. It is certain that the Ministry of Public Health does not make any financial allocations to those health facilities for such contributions.
