Specialised Finance Controllers of the Cameroon General Certificate of Education, CGCE, Board and the Southwest Development Authority, SOWEDA, have been exhorted to work in strict respect of the law governing public finance in Cameroon in order to avoid errors.

The call was made by the Chief of Division for Budgetary Control and Audit in the Ministry of Finance, Serge Dieudonne Ntsek in Buea, on April 22, while commissioning the Finance Controllers.

According to Ntsek, the ceremony was organised to reiterate the instructions of the Minister of Finance to the Finance Controllers to scrupulously apply the law in the execution of the budget in their various offices, since both institutions enjoy a cordial relationship with the Ministry of Finance.

This friendly relationship, he said, has led to the disbursement of funds to the two institutions.

To the Chief of Division for Budgetary Control and Audit, a Finance Controller should also accompany management in the execution of the budget.
Defaulters, he said, will be sanctioned if they violate the rules governing their functions.

“Sanctions will be meted out on any of you who falter in carrying out your duties,” he said, adding that good work would be recognised.

According to Ntsek, much is expected from the newly installed Finance Controllers who were initially teachers before getting into the Ministry of Finance, because, stated; “Teachers are supposed to be disciplined.”

He also handed over working documents and instruments of authority to the new Finance Controllers which included; copies of the financial regime of Cameroon, the circular on the proper execution of the budget and their official stamps to validate any financial transaction for accountability.

Theresa Njianuk Nkayimbo, took over from Elias Igelle Terhemen as the CGCEB Finance Controller, while Claude Koueke replaced Theresa Njianuk as Finance Controller for SOWEDA.

To Theresa Njianuk, being a Finance Controller does not only entail working with the Circular and Finance Law, but serving as an adviser to the vote holders and helping the Government to raise funds by ensuring that all documents needed are certified, among others.

“This job, in most cases, leads to conflict because vote holders sometimes think that the Financial Controller is there to restrict them, which is not often the case.”