Functions and operations of Parliament must be neutral, transparent

The National Letters

NATIONAL Parliament is the highest house and is the legislative arm of the Government.
The functions and operations of the Parliament and Parliamentary Services must be neutral, transparent and of high standard.
It has been observed recently that, Parliament is struggling to ease serious internal issues that are paramount to State and the public on good governance, transparency, effective administration, sound financial management, and decisive leadership.
The Speaker has approved the Parliamentary Services Structure in 2018 and was implemented early late March and April, 2019. The entire restructure, implementation and recruitment processes lack merits, deemed improper and non-compliance.
Notable discrepancies in the Implementation of Parliamentary Service Restructure are;

  •  Recruitment and Appointment of retired/non-performing officers from other government agencies and private organisations being employed by the Parliament Administration;
  •  downgrading of Positions under the current restructure;
  •  no independent HR consultants or recruitment agents engaged to implementation the restructure and recruitment of Parliamentary service positions;
  •  no minimum qualification requirements for the position of deputy clerk, executive directors, and sectional managers;
  •  not all positions under the restructure were advertised; and,
  •  Inappropriate termination of contractual engagements
    The question is whether the Speaker has knowledge and control over these issues or not.
    The obvious answer is no.
    This article can be a wake-up call for the Speaker to step up and administer the high house transparently and maintain its integrity at high standard.

    Observer
    National Parliament