Like Alice in the wonderland, National Service Personnel who were posted to Parliament to work as research assistants to Members of Parliament are hanging in a balance not knowing their fate, since the MPs have refused to confirm their postings due to lack of offices.
Investigations have established that this year alone, aside protocol posting, a total of 120 service personnel were posted for parliamentary service, an increase in the previous year�s intake of 70. An MP who spoke to the Chronicle newspaper on conditions of strict anonymity stated, �look we don�t have offices so if I for instance, confirm this service personnel, where will he or she be assisting me in my private office, my car or where. I think they are nuisance and the National Service Board must rethink before sending them here�.
He continued that �look as I talk to you now look (pointing to a lady service personnel) she is painting her face with make-ups because she has nothing to do and at the end of the month she will be paid for coming to work in Parliament�.
A service personnel who The New Crusading Guide newspaper spoke to in Parliament yesterday said �honestly I don�t know what I am doing here, I only go to sit at either the press or public gallery in suit and tie and after the House has adjourned, chat with my colleagues but who cares, at the end of the month I will get my money�.
The to and fro movements of these service personnel without any particular destination is causing so much inconvenience in the legislative House that sometime Press Corps members in contravention with the Standing Orders of the August House have to stand to take notes of proceedings and yet parliamentary officials are tight lipped on the issue.
The Human Resource Department has not been forthcoming with explanation on the issue. However, a source at the Human Resource said that �well I will not comment on it officially but you see because of protocol every MP wants to have his family member here and it�s creating so much inconvenience, they come and idle here and go away but who do you blame�.
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