PEOPLE implicated in the wastage of taxpayer funds spent on incomplete government projects must not be allowed near any other public-funded initiative.
Education Minister Aseri Radrodro called out these individuals during Parliament sitting yesterday while revealing the blatant mismanagement of taxpayer money on the Fiji National University’s yet-to-be-built Naiyaca Campus in Labasa over which an active FICAC investigation was launched in July last year for alleged mismanagement of public funds.
Mr Radrodro said the investigation was the result of an independent audit of the project by KPMG that exposed a number of serious shortcomings.
“Some of the detailed audit findings from KPMG is the lack of business case detailed feasibility study and campus planning, governance issue of the Labasa project committee which predominantly comprised council members,” Mr Radrodro said.
“The head of the construction implementation unit at that time significantly influenced the tender process relating to the main contractor, the absence of development of key governance documents and risk assessment process, anomalies in the appointment of the project management consultants, and concerns with evaluating the sole eligible tender for the main contractor.
“There was a lack of technical criteria applied for the evaluation, a poorly managed payment structure for the project management consultants, issues relating to nonpayment of subcontractors, slow progress and delays in the eventual termination of the main contractor.”
Mr Radrodro said the auditors made recommendations to strengthen each of these areas of future major capital projects.
“Based on the findings of the audit, the FNU lodged a formal complaint with FICAC on July 30, 2024, and is currently awaiting the outcome of the investigation.
“The university has set an ambitious goal to complete construction for classes to commence at the Naiyaca Campus by 2027 semester 1.”
The minister stressed it was crucial that government-funded projects be monitored closely and any abuse of taxpayers’ funds be discouraged.
“Those implicated in wastage need to be noted and addressed.
“Subsequently they must not be allowed near such project management again and must be addressed by the law for such blatant mismanagement.”