For years in the North West Region, local councils operated with minimal oversight, often leaving citizens grappling with inefficiency, discrimination, and a lack of transparency. The creation of the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator (PIC) in 2020 marked a turning point, introducing a mechanism to check council excesses and enhance development. As the PIC published its 2024 Annual Report on 28th February 2025, the strides made in improving governance and citizen relations were laid bare, alongside the challenges that remain.
Before the establishment of the PIC, councils in the North-West Region often functioned without adequate oversight. Citizens faced marginalisation, poor service delivery, and a lack of recourse when wronged.
“The principal mission of the Public Independent Conciliator is to ensure that good services are rendered by the councils to the population, void of discrimination and marginalisation, and in respect of human rights,” Tamfu Simon Fai, the Public Independent Conciliator, explained during the report’s presentation.
The absence of a formal mechanism to address grievances left many feeling underserved and disenfranchised.
Established with a mandate to mediate between citizens and regional and council services, the creation of the PIC was a response to the growing need for accountability and fairness in local governance.
“We guarantee citizens’ fair and equitable treatment under the law,” Tamfu Simon Fai emphasised.
The office serves as a watchdog, investigating complaints against administrative acts of councils and resolving disputes amicably. It also provides a safe avenue for council workers to report wrongdoing without fear of reprisal.
Since its inception, the PIC has submitted four annual reports to the President of the Republic, with the 2024 report being the latest. The report, presented on 28th February 2025, outlines the PIC’s activities, challenges, and recommendations for the future. It also highlights the office’s commitment to standing with the “aggrieved, the underprivileged, the underserved, and the downtrodden.”
The 2024 report captures a year of activity for the PIC. Key achievements included the organisation of three information and education seminars, four workshops for municipal treasurers, secretaries-general, mayors, and other stakeholders, and visits to councils in divisional headquarters such as Nkambe and Kumbo. These visits aimed to sensitise councils and the population about the PIC’s mission and encourage collaboration.
One of the most notable achievements was the treatment of 71 complaints against municipal authorities, up from 48 in 2023. These complaints were either fully examined, reoriented, or referred to competent authorities, demonstrating the PIC’s commitment to resolving citizen grievances. Additionally, the PIC launched a campaign to promote citizen participation in local development, which ran from July to September 2024. According to the PIC, the campaign, which included capacity-building workshops, radio programs, and outdoor sensitisation exercises, sought to empower citizens to engage in council affairs as a matter of right and duty.
The 2024 Annual Report by PIC goes beyond just highlighting complaints; it provides a comprehensive analysis of how councils fared in key areas of governance based on citizen perception. The report identifies councils that performed relatively better, those that showed notable improvement, and those that recorded a decline compared to 2023. The assessment was based on various indicators, including the accessibility of mayors and council premises, public consultation in decision-making, the creation of neighborhood and village committees, and citizen involvement in project identification. Other key factors examined were the prevalence of unethical practices, the implementation of council projects, the management of council resources, and the efficiency in issuing civil status documents. Ultimately, the report captures citizens' overall satisfaction and confidence in their councils, offering a roadmap for improvement while reinforcing the need for greater transparency and accountability at the local government level.
Despite these achievements, the PIC faced major challenges in 2024. The persistent insecurity in the region, driven by the presence of separatist armed groups, hindered the PIC’s operations. Threats and attacks against scrutineers, including one case of kidnapping for ransom, emphasised the precarious environment in which the PIC operates.
“The high insecurity due to the active presence of separatist armed groups in many parts of the region affected the functioning of the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator,” Tamfu Simon Fai noted.
Other challenges included the late disbursement of the PIC’s subvention, which delayed planned activities, and the lacklustre collaboration of some council authorities in addressing complaints. The absence of a local public service code also posed a major impediment to the effective functioning of regional and local councils.
The 2024 report concludes with a series of recommendations aimed at improving the performance of regional and local authorities in 2025. These include internal reforms to enhance administration and management, as well as measures to strengthen collaboration between councils and citizens. The PIC also emphasised the need for legislative amendments to clarify the competences of regional and local authorities under the Special Status accorded to the North-West and South-West regions.
“Our objective is to see our people relate well with regional and local authorities they have put in place to serve them. Our duty is to ensure that this is done and citizens are enjoying their rights and carrying on their duties.” Tamfu Simon Fai stated.
“The Public Independent Conciliator will continue to play its role in promoting local good governance, fairness, and accountability in the delivery of local development and quality services by decentralised entities of the region to the population. That is our mission, and that we will continue to do.” Tamfu Simon Fai stated
By Bakah Derick
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