Staff of the Senate yesterday January 6, 2016 in the Chambers of the Yaounde Conference Centre rose from their seats to, in one loud voice, wish Senate President, Marcel Niat Njifenji, long life and total happiness and prosperity throughout the year 2016. The surprising gesture occurred at the instigation of the Secretary General of the Senate, Michel Meva’a Meboutou, during the latter’s address to the Senate President.

On behalf of the personnel, Michel Meva’a Meboutou expressed gratitude to the President of the Senate for all the care they have enjoyed since the start of activities in the Senate, for measures taken to regularise their staff status as well as for training opportunities that enabled them upgrade their skills in parliamentary business and administrative tasks. Mounting the rostrum, Marcel Niat Njifenji in turn and “with cordiality and sincerity”, presented his New Year wishes to members of the Executive Bureau of the Senate, Senators as well as personnel and their families.

To him, the parliamentary institution fully accomplished its objectives in 2015, voting 19 bills and checking government action through question-answer sessions. While pledging the institution’s support to the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, he urged all to be mobilised for 2016, which according him, is a year of victory which will also bring peace and stability.

Members of the Senate’s Executive Bureau, parliamentary groups, staff of the General Secretariat and President’s Cabinet, then filed past the Senate President to individually present their New Year wishes. The Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Martin Chungong, was special guest at the event which also saw the decoration of Senator Ouli Ndongo Monique with the Commander of the National Order of Valour.