President Tshisekedi launched Thursday, December 22 in Mbandaka, in the north of the country, the 9th edition of the conference of governors. This constitutional framework makes it possible to harmonize policies between the provinces and the central government. Organized this year in a pre-election context, these meetings are also an opportunity for the governors to expose the problems that the governors experience in their respective provinces.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
In the memo read before Felix Tshisekedi, the governors complain in particular about the non-payment of the retrocession due to the provincial institutions.
There are also arrears of governors’ salaries accumulated since the beginning of this legislature.
The latter also regret the sporadic payment of operating costs.
According to them, the disbursement is made against a background of disparities which do not seem to be based on any objective criteria, but, I quote, on political or regional variables.
#RDC 22.12.2022|#Mbandaka
The Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi launched the work of the 9th session of the Conference of Provincial Governors, which is taking place in Mbandaka, from 22 to 23.12. 022, on strengthening the authority of the State to revive the economy of the Provinces. pic.twitter.com/szOXHxZEbT– DRC Presidency ?? (@Presidence_RDC) December 22, 2022
For his part, Félix Tshisekedi was also critical of the governors, pointing in particular to problems of management of the resources made available to the provinces.
He also pinpointed the deficit in the mobilization of resources at the provincial level.
Despite the exclusive tax powers recognized to the provinces, the level of collection of own revenue in the provinces remains largely below the tax potential, he said.
Félix Tshisekedi also made governors more responsible for the implementation, one year before the elections, of the so-called development program for 145 territories.
Endowed with a fund of 1.6 billion dollars, this program concerns 2,200 projects for the construction of administrative, school and health buildings.
” You are expected to fully play the role of administrative police officer in the coordination of this program. And you will be judged by the result he told governors.