The Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization in charge of Regional and Local Authorities, Mr Emmanuel Edou came before the MPs of the Finance Committee of the National Assembly, on Monday 24 November 2008. He was defending the budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization in place of the Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, who was unavoidably absent. For a little above three hours, Mr Emmanuel Edou gave clear and concise answers to numerous questions from the Members of Parliament. These questions were related to the powers and duties of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization.

The draft budget of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization has dropped by two billion two hundred and thirteen million from that of the 2008 financial year.

Following is the full text of the introductory statement of the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Territorial administration and Decentralization before the Finance Committee.