National assembly Complex:main building to be officially christened Paul Biya glass house, April 25

National Assembly speaker, Cavayé Yéguié Djibril also used the closing exercise to further amplify the house’s call for peace to reign before, during and after the upcoming 2025 Presidential Election in Cameroon.

The main building of the National Assembly Complex will be officially named after the Head of State, Paul Biya, on April 25. The Speak of the National Assembly, Honorable Cavayé Yéguié Djibril made the announcement in Yaounde yesterday. This was while he closed the first ordinary session of the National Assembly. The legislator said the main building of the facility which was inaugurated in late last year, will be christened the “Paul BIYA Glass House”.

“I am very pleased to inform the nation’s representatives and the general public that after its inauguration on 30 November 2024, a ceremony to christen the new Glass House of the National Assembly as the “Paul Biya Glass House” will be organized on 25 April 2025,” the House Speaker told the legislators in Yaounde yesterday. Hon Cavayé officially christened the main building of the National Assembly Complex as the Paul Biya Glass House in January this year.

The move provoked criticism from a section of Cameroonians especially opposition political figures in the country. The naming of the building after Biya has been described by some critics as an overzealous act by the House Speaker to please the Head of State as a show of gratitude for his longevity as National Assembly leader.  Hon Cavayé has served as speaker of the National Assembly for over 33 years. He was first elected to the prestigious position in March 1992.

Special department created to handle new complex

Hon Cavayé also announced during the close of the first ordinary session of the National Assembly that a special structure has been put in place to ensure an effective handling of the new National Assembly Complex.  He said the department will particularly be placed under his personal supervision to ensure efficiency in overseeing the meticulous management of the ultramodern facility.  

“…I have created a new department, the Department in charge of National Assembly Buildings and placed it under the authority of the Speaker’s Office for the proper maintenance of the National Assembly Complex an architectural marvel endowed with the latest equipment and technologies,” Hon Cavayé stated. The House Speaker particularly warned the members of parliament and other users of the National Assembly Complex against the misuse of the main building, the Paul Biya Glass House.

 “The proper maintenance of the National Assembly Complex equally concerns everyone. We are, therefore, expected, as Members of the National Assembly, staff of the National Assembly and users, to refrain from all what would result in the dilapidation of the Paul BIYA Glass House,” Hon Cavayé stated.

Successful March session

Addressing the legislators on Wednesday, Hon Cavayé revealed that the March session of parliament was a hugely successful one for the National Assembly.  He said he is pleased that the body was able to scrutinize and pass seven bills and hold two Question Time sittings during the March session. “In essence, they were able to discharge their tasks of legislating and ensuring Government oversight.

I heartily congratulate them in that regard,” the House Speaker said. “The Committee on Finance and the Budget also organised, under the leadership of its Chairperson, Honourable Moutymbo Rosette Ayayi, a seminar to build the capacity of its members and that of members of its Technical Support Unit. The objective of the seminar was to educate attendees on the accounting reform affected by regional and local authorities,” he added.

Hon Cavayé also announced that the house also used the March session to recommend and draw the attention of the government and those of the general public to some key national issues. Among the issues raised, the Speaker said, was that on climate finance on which a forum was held on the suggestion of the Coordinator of the Parliamentary Network for the Sustainable Management of Central African Forest Ecosystems, Honourable Jean Jacques Zam.

The House Speaker said similar steps were taken by the Parliamentary Network for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship Ventures which organized a workshop on the creation, follow up and evaluation of recommendations during its preceding sittings on business incubators. “Lastly, the National Assembly organised, under the stewardship and auspices of Honourable Nanga Mefang and the Task Force created for that purpose respectively, a Special Plenary Sitting on Domestication of Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol, especially its provisions on women’s reproductive health rights which are still to be protected in Cameroon,” the House Speaker said.

House amplifies call for peace, vigilance during election

National Assembly speaker, Cavayé Yéguié Djibril also used the closing exercise to further amplify the house’s call for peace to reign before, during and after the upcoming 2025 Presidential Election in Cameroon. The body amplified the call through the House Speaker, Hon Cavayé as he closed the March 2025 session. “As we draw the curtains on our proceedings, everyone will now be looking forward to the organization of the presidential election in our country in October 2025.

That is why we are still exhorting our compatriots to be calm, serene and patriotic,” Hon Cavayé said in part. “While it is true that an election is a contest that spurs candidates to vie with covetousness and be enthused by the expected outcome, an election can only be properly, credibly and fairly organized in a peaceful atmosphere where voters have a clear understanding of the issues and challenges our country is expected to overcome,” he added.

He particularly called on members of parliament to also take on the personal challenge to preach peace in their respective constituencies. “As representatives of the sovereign People, we must trumpet messages of peace and the virtues of responsible behavior…I hereby exhort you to preach peace when you return to your respective constituencies during the parliamentary recess beginning today.

Let us prepare the October 2025 Presidential Elections with brimming confidence, namely self-confidence and confidence in our country’s institutions,” Hon Cavayé said.