Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth says the ongoing Parliamentary Service staff validation exercise is intended to correct staffing anomalies, align job titles with qualifications and experience, and restore integrity without targeting employees for dismissal.
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has sought to calm fears among parliamentary staff over an ongoing validation exercise, saying the process is intended to address staffing irregularities and restore fairness, integrity and morale in the Parliamentary Service.
In a statement addressed to staff and the public, Oboth said he had taken note of media reports about the exercise but urged employees not to panic.
“Fellow citizens, I have seen some reports in the media about the ongoing validation exercise of the staff of the Parliamentary Service. There is no panic. There’s bliss!” Oboth said.
He explained that he had sought the assistance of the Head of Public Service to ensure the exercise was conducted fairly and transparently.
“For fairness and transparency, I requested the assistance of the Head of Public Service because Parliamentary Service is indeed Public Service,” he said.
The Speaker said the new parliamentary leadership was not seeking to cause job losses but to streamline the staffing structure and ensure employees held positions commensurate with their qualifications and experience.
“It is not the interest of the new leadership of Parliament to see anyone lose a job. The nation should not overthink this. Everyone should take it easy and keep serving,” he said.
Oboth described the exercise as a routine administrative process intended to address anomalies in the staffing structure and ensure that job titles reflected employees’ qualifications and professional experience.
“I would like to assure the country that this exercise is a normal process. What we are doing is a simple exercise of restoring morale, integrity and sanity in the Parliamentary Service,” he said.
He emphasised that seniority and promotion should be based on merit rather than titles alone.
“When you are called a senior, you should actually be a senior. When you are a principal, you should actually be a principal. You can become a director whether you joined in 2024 or 2026, but it must come with the right qualifications and experience,” Oboth said.
Using a race analogy, the Speaker said the exercise was intended to promote equal opportunities and fairness in public service.
“Think of public service as a race. Everyone should begin from the same starting line and run fairly to the finish. That is all this validation seeks to ensure,” he said.
Oboth also cited his own career progression as an example of how merit could enable employees to advance through public service.
“I grew up through merit. I did interviews from the entry point and was shortlisted among many. I had no god parent in public service, God was instead my parent. I know it is possible to grow. And as Parliamentary Service, we are taking the lead on this,” he said.
He urged parliamentary staff to remain patient and continue performing their duties as the validation exercise proceeds.
“I, therefore, appeal for patience and all staff should remain calm and go about their activities normally,” he said.