Alban Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, says a significant number of Service staff in Parliament earn salary every month for doing nothing.
This is as a result of lack of monitoring and supervisor by managers of various units in the House.
He challenged the newly constituted board of the Parliamentary Service Board to work out work ethics for the staff.
“This board must work collectively to improve upon the work ethics of staff. It is a fact that there some staff members are hardworking and giving off their best for Parliament but it is equally true that there is a significant number whose contribution is nothing to write home about.
Indeed there are some who basically have no schedule and virtually do nothing yet are paid by the state every month, this I think must change if we want to be a module parliament in Africa,” he added.
The Board among others exists to facilitate the work of Parliament through the provision of support services to the House including its committees and agencies for the purpose of ensuring the full and effective exercise of the powers of Parliament.
It also has the responsibility of promoting the welfare of Members of Parliament and Staff of the Service and general control of the management of the Service in matters of policy.
The Speaker is unhappy with the low capacity of Parliament in the exercise of its oversight roles.
He added that the House needs to attract qualified drafters to ensure full utilisation of the Private Members Law but the lack of control of the Parliamentary enclave remains a big challenge.
“Our Parliament continues to receive high ratings internationally, however, it’s rating in the area of oversight is unsurprisingly low and I say this because we lack the needed personnel and resources to carry this role effectively,
That is why I called the Finance Minister and the Secretary to the President to complain about the budgetary cut and this must be fixed,” Mr Bagbin said.
The former MP also tasked a committee chaired by the majority leader to discuss with government proposal by parliament to take over and control the current enclave housing the legislature.
“The current location of Parliament belongs to the controller of households’ under the office of the chief of staff and as a house, we have no control of movements of people to and from parliament and this is a great security risk.
“We are in discussion with the president to cede the enclave to parliament and I can say the president has given his commitment to this request,” he stressed.
Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu wants the House to address the high attrition rate, while Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu says the house must work to build the capacity of MPs and staff of the Service.
