The Ministry of Secondary Education in Cameroon has recently published a list of 3,442 secondary school teachers who are required to provide justifications for their current administrative positions. Minister Nalova Lyonga has set a deadline of 14 days, starting February 23, 2026, for teachers to present themselves at "door 507 bis" of her ministry, with the necessary supporting documents. Failing this, they will be simply removed from the state payroll.
This approach follows a data collection carried out by the Ministry of Finance at Cameroon's airports. Analysis of travel information revealed that these state employees had traveled outside the country in recent years. The aim is to verify whether they have actually returned to Cameroon and are still in their posts.
Against this backdrop, this operation aims to counter the phenomenon of emigration, particularly to Canada, where many Cameroonian teachers are abandoning their posts for better prospects, while continuing to receive their salaries in Cameroon. This situation is causing a shortfall for the State and undermining the continuity of the public education service.
This action is an extension of the physical count of State personnel (Coppe), launched in 2018 to clean up the payroll of public servants illegally receiving payments. According to the Ministry of Finance, the Coppe has already made it possible to remove 10,000 fictitious public servants, generating annual budget savings of around 30 billion FCFA since 2019. In addition, on November 27, 2025, the Minister of Public Service, Joseph Lé, announced the removal of approximately 6,000 civil servants following disciplinary proceedings.
In January 2024, the Minister of Secondary Education, Prof. Nalova Lyonga, estimated the number of staff in irregular absence at 2,326. Figures had been put forward on social networks mentioning up to 35,000 Cameroonian teachers registered in Canada for 2023 alone, figures contested by the Minister. The current operation therefore aims to clarify the situation of these 3,442 teachers and ensure the integrity of the State's payroll.
