By Wilson Musa
Some journalists from both audio-visual, print and online media from the North West region have been sensitized on the mission and mandate of the Public Independent Conciliator, PIC, for the North West region.
This was during a one-day information and education seminar which took place on Wednesday November 13, 2024 in Bamenda.
The seminar chaired by the PIC for the North West region, Tamfu Simon Fai was aimed at enhancing the understanding of the journalists on the works of the office of the Public Independent Conciliator especially on its mission, mandate, and the role of the population in local development and governance.
According to the PIC, Tamfu Simon Fai, this will help the media practitioners better understand the role of the PIC in the political and administrative landscape of the North West region and also to identify common grounds for the purpose of setting up consultation for fruitful collaboration with the journalists.
“We cannot succeed without you carrying on the work you have been doing through your outlets. The population is looking up to you for good, verifiable and credible information on the office of the PIC. Please do your best to serve them with probity and come back to us whenever you need any explanation,” Tamfu told the journalists.
During the seminar, the journalists were schooled on the mission, functioning and mandate of the PIC by Dr. Alfred Wuku, another presentation came in on how the population can better engage with the office of the PIC by Dr. Atia Tilarious.
In his presentation, Dr. Atia Tilarious called on the journalists to work strategically and help transmit the PIC’s message to the population in a positive way.
The journalists were also told to work hand-in-hand with the office of the PIC to spinoff decentralization, expose corruption and enhance citizen participation in local development.
The PIC was created in 2019 after the Major national Dialogue which recommended its creation that gave the Anglophone regions sepcial status. This was as a result of the crisis that starte din 2016 with teachers and lawyers. On December 24, 2020, President Paul Boya laid down laws and functionality of the body.
Appointed as the PIC in 2021, Tamfu Simon Fai together with his staff works to enhance local governance through council development, protect the rights of citizens in communities, combat discrimination, management and settle complaints amicably between citizens and councils.
