Budget-defence sessions continued at the National Assembly as government ministers appeared before the Finance and Budget Committee to justify their 2026 allocations. The Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Dr. Taiga, defended a budget of 56,509,000,000 CFA francs, outlining plans to accelerate the Agropastoral and Fisheries Import Substitution Plan (PIISAH), with strong emphasis on the rapidly profitable fish sector. Of this amount, 12.5 billion CFA francs will go to PIISAH activities, including 6.5 billion CFA francs to support actors in the fish value chain through the SME Bank.
Dr. Taiga said the ministry would complete work on the draft law on livestock farming and finalise the National Development Plan for the Dairy Sector. He also announced the launch of development works on 15,280 hectares of hydroagricultural land in Adamawa to boost fodder and milk production, accompanied by 1.26 billion CFA francs in support to dairy stakeholders and a 2-billion-CFA-franc transfer to SODEPA. The ministry will complete the Bamenda industrial slaughterhouse, advance similar projects in Douala and Yaoundé, intensify vaccination campaigns, and expand aquaculture and capture fisheries through new infrastructure, equipment and support to producers.
The Minister of Secondary Education, Prof. Nalova Lyonga, said the increase in her ministry’s budget is mainly due to the government’s commitment to paying the debt owed to teachers. She reaffirmed that this obligation will be honoured. Prof. Nalova also announced plans to introduce artificial intelligence–powered software to modernise teaching, enhance learning, and improve administrative efficiency. She further stressed that ensuring safe and secure schools remains a core priority of the ministry.
The committee is expected to compile its recommendations before the full National Assembly debates and adopts the 2026 state budget.
Claudette Chin
