The Speaker says the exercise is intended to promote merit, fairness and accountability in the Parliamentary Service, amid concerns over alleged irregular recruitment, accelerated promotions and staff qualifications.
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth has assured parliamentary staff that an ongoing validation exercise is not intended to trigger job losses, urging employees to remain calm as the process enters its second day.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Oboth described the exercise as a routine administrative process aimed at restoring morale, integrity and order within the Parliamentary Service.
“There is no panic. There's bliss!” the Speaker said, dismissing concerns arising from media reports about the verification exercise.
Oboth said he had sought the assistance of the Head of Public Service to ensure fairness and transparency, arguing that the Parliamentary Service falls within the broader public service framework.
He maintained that the new parliamentary leadership was not interested in seeing employees lose their jobs and urged staff to continue performing their duties as the exercise proceeds.
The Speaker said the process would establish whether employees possess the qualifications and experience required for the positions they occupy, particularly amid concerns about career progression and promotions within Parliament.
“When you are called a senior, you should actually be a senior. When you are a principal, you should actually be a principal,” Oboth said, emphasising that appointments and promotions must be supported by appropriate qualifications and experience, regardless of when an employee joined the institution.
He compared public service to a race in which every employee should start from the same point and compete fairly, saying the validation exercise was intended to promote merit and equal opportunity.
Drawing on his own career, Oboth said he had risen through the ranks on merit after undergoing interviews and competing with other candidates, without relying on personal connections.
The exercise comes amid concerns and allegations of irregular recruitment and accelerated promotions during the previous Parliament. Authorities are scrutinising academic qualifications, appointment records and recruitment procedures to establish whether employees were hired in accordance with the required procedures and whether their qualifications match the positions they hold.
The validation began on Monday, October 19, with staff from offices including those of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Clerk to Parliament and Leader of the Opposition, alongside other administrative units.
On Tuesday, the exercise is scheduled to cover the departments of Finance, Administration, Transport and Logistics, and Human Resource.
Parliamentary Commissioner and Human Resources Committee chairperson Susan Abeja has said the exercise will also examine possible staffing irregularities, including forged academic documents, inappropriate job placements and concerns about ghost workers.
Abeja has indicated that employees found to have forged qualifications could face dismissal, while others may be reassigned to positions that match their qualifications and experience.
The exercise is expected to run for four days, concluding on Thursday, October 22, with the remaining departments and offices scheduled for verification.
Oboth has urged staff to exercise patience, cooperate with the validation team and continue with their normal duties as the Parliamentary Service seeks to strengthen accountability and restore confidence in its recruitment and human resource management systems.