Joshua Osih President THE STRENGTH OF OUR DIVERSITY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2018 JOSHUA OSIH | THE STRENGTH OF OUR DIVERSITY | P . 1 MY CONTRACT WITH THE NATION Build a new Cameroon through determination, duty to act and innovation! I decided to run in the presidential election of October 7th to give the youth, who constitute the vast majority of our population, the opportunity to escape the despair that has gripped them for more than three decades now, to finally assume responsibility for the future direction of our highly endowed nation. The time has come for our youth to rise in their numbers in unison and take control of their destiny and stop the I have decided to run in the presidential nation’s descent into the abyss. They election on October 7th. This decision, must and can put Cameroon back on taken after a great deal of thought, the tracks of progress. Thirty-six years arose from several challenges we of selfish rule by an irresponsible have all faced. These crystalized into and corrupt regime have brought an a single resolution: We must redeem otherwise prosperous Cameroonian Cameroon from the abyss of thirty-six nation to its knees. The very basic years of low performance, curb the elements of statecraft have all but negative instinct of conserving power disappeared and the citizenry is at all cost and save the collapsing caught in a maelstrom. As a nation, system from further degradation. I we can no longer afford adequate have therefore been moved to run medical treatment, nor can we provide for in the presidential election of quality education for our children. October 7th to restore the pride The less-privileged members of our of being a Cameroonian citizen in country suffer from the burden of this jewel of Africa. This God’s own misery, while young people are being country and Africa in miniature has squeezed by massive unemployment been transformed by the forces of and the daily burden of staying alive evil into a breeding ground of misery, to venture into risky enterprises. corruption and fratricidal wars. Because the minority super class P . 2 | JOSHUA OSIH | THE STRENGTH OF OUR DIVERSITY of leaders wants to monopolize on the road to unity in diversity, the management of our wealth, progress in solidarity, as we resolutely it opted for totalitarianism and work for regional integration, African hording of the national treasury that unity and inclusive participation in the have marginalized groups of our concert of nations. We must revive the population, caused frustration and pride of being Cameroonians, patriots rebellion and challenged our national and Africans committed beyond our unity. diversity. Cameroon is an opportunity for us and for our children. For My dear compatriots, now is the time Cameroon, each of us must be ready to act. It is time to hand over power to to make the ultimate sacrifice. I pledge the people who wish to make progress to assume my responsibilities. And so that they take charge of their own if our contract is sealed on October destiny. Faced with major new global 7th, as I firmly believe it would be, I radical changes that affect our lives pledge to report on the progress of and impose on us the urgency to hang the contract each year, in front of on to the train of modernity, time has the people, at Parliament. For me come for all those who have been and for you, it will be our pathway to waiting for the opportunity to stand regain the spirit of pride, conquest together to put our country back on and sacrifice bequeathed to us by the the track of progress. Our human Founding Fathers of this nation, most and material potential, the great gifts of who died as martyrs. of nature and God’s blessings make Cameroon a natural leader in the concert of nations. I stand before you because I am convinced that we can give Cameroonians the taste of Joshua OSIH living as responsible citizens. Once our confidence is restored, we can, and indeed, we will contribute, each of us where we are, with our skills and specific means, to the reconstruction of Cameroon. It is time that our extraordinary diversity, so envied elsewhere and that makes us Africa in miniature, ceases to be exploited for selfish ends. It should be an asset and wealth for the benefit of all. Moreover, the six projects of this contract of confidence that I propose to you, will allow us to put Cameroon JOSHUA OSIH | THE STRENGTH OF OUR DIVERSITY | P . 3 To RE-ESTABLISH PEACE, WORK and FATHERLAND! P . 4 | JOSHUA OSIH | THE STRENGTH OF OUR DIVERSITY PROGRAMME POLITIC ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL To RE-ESTABLISH PEACE, WORK and FATHERLAND! JOSHUA OSIH | THE STRENGTH OF OUR DIVERSITY | P . 5 Improve the living conditions of Cameroonians My first project will be to give the opportunity to each Cameroonian to change his or her situation in life. As soon as they are appointed, members of government will be addressing fundamental concerns of the people, particularly the lack of decent employment, which involves many people and has practically blighted the hopes and expectations of our society. The most visible and saddest consequence of this is to be observed in the emigration of our youths and work force who leave the country in search of hope. Many of them drown in the Mediterranean Sea or are sold into slavery in Libya. While waiting for the overall recovery of our economy which will be the major concern of my economic program, as soon as I take office, I will take a number of measures to boost employment, especially youth employment, and the purchasing power of Cameroonians. P . 6 | JOSHUA OSIH | THE STRENGTH OF OUR DIVERSITY I will reform land tenure laws to elites. This constitutes the greatest allow those who till the land, mostly threat to our living together and women and youth, to access title hence the imperative to implement deeds that they can use as collateral inclusive political and economic assets for funding. Moreover, I will reforms. Instead of moving forward reform the law on inheritance so together, Cameroonians are as to protect family heritage during being increasingly balkanised by generational transitions. Both centrifugal economic and political measures will allow me to combat powers thus creating inevitable practices that exclude young people social tensions and a growing risk of and women from land ownership in societal implosion. To fight against most of our traditions. poverty is not an issue of charity. It is our responsibility and I am ready Poverty in Cameroon, especially to assume it! poverty that affects young people, is worsened by the inequalities that concentrate most of our wealth in the hands of upstart JOSHUA OSIH | THE STRENGTH OF OUR DIVERSITY | P . 7 A purchasing power to recover our dignity It is a must to boost consumption by significantly increasing the lowest salaries. It is hard to believe that today, salaries are not indexed on growth performance just as it is for the rest of the economy. It is therefore indispensable to establish just and equitable measures to balance things by: - Establishing a minimum wage (SMIC) at FCFA 160,000 over a 5-year period. - Doubling the salary of civil servants over a 5 - year period. - Making it possible for each family to have their land title. - Prohibiting the practice of paying rents in advance and regulating the landlord / tenant relationship. P . 8 | JOSHUA OSIH | THE STRENGTH OF OUR DIVERSITY Decent employment for a conquering generation I will draw up a new Labour Code to put an end to the injustices against workers and align the legal environment for labour with the requirements of the current context. Similarly, I will: Integrate part-time primary school teachers and State-registered nursing graduates into the public service. Reorganise and reform the National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS) through: - An audit of the CNPS estate. - Return the management of the CNPS to workers under State supervision and with the participation of trade unions in the Board of Directors. - Enact the Trade Unions Act in accordance with the Tripartite Resolutions, thus giving them a legal status as their role in improving the working conditions is well established. Create a labour court to handle all labour disputes. Establish a national forum for labour involving the stakeholders (employers- employees/businessmen, the state) of the labour market to be under State the President of the Republic. Set up a guarantee fund for young entrepreneurs. Set index-tied incentives for civil servants in rural and remote areas to reduce absenteeism and resignation rates. Remove quotas in entrance examinations and other competitive exams. Remove oral examinations from competitive administrative recruitment Discontinue the use of contract staff in the public service Harmonize the age of retirement for state employees and cancel the extension of active duty time for civil servants who have reached retirement age. Progressively introduce unemployment benefits for workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own after five years of service by covering 60% of their salaries over a period of two years or until they can find another job. Introduce a declaration of employment for each new job contract JOSHUA OSIH | THE STRENGTH OF OUR DIVERSITY | P . 9 Employment and Youth entrepreneurship An imperative for success during my term of office P . 10 | JOSHUA OSIH | THE STRENGTH OF OUR DIVERSITY The fight against youth unemployment would be an absolute priority during my seven years in office. For the youths of today to be able to build the Cameroon of tomorrow, they should be able to live independent lives including having access to work that is commensurate with their qualifications.