PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has told Parliament that a total of 47 civil servants across 13 ministries have been suspended with pay between 2023 and September 2025, costing the Government more than $1million in salaries and benefits.
Responding to a written question from Opposition MP Premila Kumar, the Prime Minister said eight officers were suspended in 2023, 17 in 2024, and 22 in 2025.
“The Civil Service Discipline requires that a permanent secretary may suspend an employee at any stage during the disciplinary process if it is determined that the presence of the employee could compromise safety in the workplace, hinder the investigation, or affect the integrity of ministry information, property or public service,” Mr Rabuka explained.
He said officers under investigation remain on full pay during suspension, but once a decision is made to institute disciplinary action, “any suspension will initially be on no pay from the date the case is referred to the Public Service Disciplinary Tribunal (PSDT)”.
Mr Rabuka stressed that not all suspension cases result in termination, noting that “officers may receive warnings and have their suspensions lifted after investigations”.
The Prime Minister said the total cost to Government during the suspension periods amounted to $153,227.58 in 2023, $428,092.84 in 2024, and $429,841.63 in 2025.
He added that the PSDT determines the outcome of disciplinary cases once they are referred, ensuring due process and accountability within the civil service.
“The disciplinary process ensures fairness while maintaining public trust in the integrity of the civil service,” Mr Rabuka said.
