Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has cautioned parliamentary staff and MPs against seeking his or the Speaker’s intervention in the ongoing staff verification exercise.
He said employees with genuine appointment letters, academic qualifications and national identity cards have nothing to fear.
Speaking during Tuesday afternoon’s plenary sitting, Tayebwa said he had received calls from people concerned about the exercise. He questioned why employees should seek parliamentary leaders’ intervention when asked to present documents to verify their employment status.
“The exercise for validation and verification of staff is going on. Yesterday the Right Honourable Speaker met all staff and assured them that if their papers are okay, there’s no need to worry,” Tayebwa said.
He questioned why staff whose documents were in order would worry about verification or contact the Speaker for assistance.
“I am receiving calls right now, but if at verification they are asking for your appointment letter, they’re asking for your academic documents, your national ID, now why do you call a Speaker to help you? And why would you be worried?” he asked.
Parliament is conducting the exercise to examine staff employment records and confirm the authenticity of documents submitted during recruitment and subsequent career progression.
Employees must present appointment letters, academic qualifications and national identity cards to establish whether their records meet the required standards.
Tayebwa urged MPs not to intervene on behalf of staff whose documents may be questionable, saying such intervention would be immaterial.
“And honourable colleagues, if you know that the person calling you, the papers are not okay, and which we don’t think may be there, I would advise they take a shortcut,” Tayebwa told legislators.
Tayebwa also repeated the assurance Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth Oboth gave parliamentary staff on Monday that employees whose documents are in order should not fear the exercise.
The Speaker said the verification was similar to exercises conducted in other government institutions and did not target any individual.
He said the exercise sought to ensure that staff worked in the appropriate departments and held positions matching their qualifications and experience.
