The chairman of the Fiji National University Council, Semesa Karavaki, has raised serious concerns about the reassignment of FNU to the Prime Minister’s Office, questioning both its legality and the manner in which it was carried out.
Mr Karavaki said while the idea was initially “noble” and inspired by the Singapore model where universities fall under the prime minister due to alignment with national development planning, the process in Fiji had taken a troubling turn.
He said the proposal first surfaced about two years ago, at a time when FNU was grappling with a steady decline in government grant funding.
However, he stressed that although the reassignment has been announced, it is not yet lawful as it would require amendments to existing legislation.
“Legally, although FNU has been reassigned, it is not legal,” he said.
Mr Karavaki alleged the sudden and urgent reassignment followed a directive issued by the council last week requiring all senior appointments, from heads of department upwards, to be submitted to the council for approval, as provided for under the FNU Act.
He said the directive came after the council investigated complaints against the vice-chancellor and identified issues with staff promotion and workplace culture.
According to Mr Karavaki, the reassignment is now widely perceived as a move to protect the vice-chancellor from further disciplinary action, with her contract due to end next month.
He also expressed frustration that the council, responsible for the overall governance of the university and the appointment of the vice-chancellor was excluded from key meetings and has since been cut off from senior management. “We are left in the dark,” Mr Karavaki said, adding that council members have been instructed not to engage with him.
It is understood that the permanent secretary for National Planning, Development and Statistics, Peni Sikivou, met with the VC yesterday.
Mr Karavaki said no meeting has yet been sought with the acting Prime Minister, but maintained the council’s authority has been effectively sidelined.
