Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth has reassured Parliamentary Service staff that the ongoing validation exercise is not intended to trigger job losses, urging employees to remain calm and continue with their duties as the process seeks to promote fairness, merit and integrity.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Oboth-Oboth said the exercise was a normal 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 ongoing exercise.
He explained that, in the interest of fairness and transparency, he had sought the assistance of the Head of Public Service, noting that the Parliamentary Service was part of the broader public service framework.
“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.
The Speaker appealed to staff to exercise patience and avoid unnecessary anxiety as the validation process continues, assuring them that they should carry on with their normal duties.
Oboth-Oboth said the exercise was intended to ensure that appointments, ranks and positions within the Parliamentary Service reflect the qualifications, experience and competencies required for the respective roles.
“When you are called a senior, you should actually be a senior. When you are a principal, you should actually be a principal,” he said.
He added that employees could rise to senior positions, including directorships, regardless of when they joined the service, provided they met the required professional standards.
“You can become a director whether you joined in 2024 or 2026, but it must come with the right qualifications and experience,” he said.
The Speaker compared public service to a race in which every employee should begin from the same starting line and compete fairly for career advancement.
“Everyone should begin from the same starting line and run fairly to the finish. That is all this validation seeks to ensure,” he said.
He emphasised that merit should be the foundation of recruitment and career progression, drawing on his own professional journey as an example of how individuals could advance through fair competition.
Oboth-Oboth said he had progressed through interviews and competitive shortlisting without relying on influential connections, arguing that the same principle should guide the Parliamentary Service.
“I grew up through merit. I did interviews from the entry point and was shortlisted among many. I had no godparent in public service. God was instead, my parent,” he said.
He added that the new leadership of Parliament was determined to lead by example by promoting fairness and professionalism within the institution.
The Speaker’s remarks come amid media reports concerning the ongoing validation of Parliamentary Service staff, an exercise that has raised questions about employees’ positions and career progression.
He reiterated his appeal for calm, urging all staff to remain patient and continue performing their duties as the exercise proceeds.
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