Fiji’s proposed 2026 Constitution would require local government bodies to be chosen by residents through regular elections, while placing constitutional limits on when the national Government can intervene in municipal administration.
The provision is contained in the Draft Constitution released today as part of the Constitution Review Commission Report, which was tabled in Parliament. The Commission had submitted its report and Draft Constitution Bill to the President on August 31.
Under Chapter 10 of the draft, each local government body “must be chosen by the citizens resident within its area in regular elections administered by the Electoral Commission”.
The draft describes a strong local government system as one that allows communities to manage their own affairs and development in ways responsive to local needs.
It proposes giving local authorities responsibility for public services most effectively delivered locally, as well as authority to decide matters of public concern that primarily affect residents in their daily lives.
Significantly, local government bodies would be guaranteed “sufficient autonomy, powers and resources” to carry out their responsibilities.
They would also have to be provided with “adequate and reasonably predictable sources of revenue” to perform their functions.
The Draft Constitution would restrict national Government intervention in local government to two specified grounds — suspected or proven corruption, or serious mismanagement.
Any intervention would have to follow procedures established by written law and would be subject to a defined time limit.
Once that period expired, management powers would return to the local government body unless Parliament expressly authorised an extension.
The chapter also seeks to integrate residents within each locality under the same local government structures, promote democratic and accountable decision-making and give communities a voice in national discussions through their local government representatives.
The proposed constitutional recognition comes as Fiji has also been reviewing its Local Government Act 1972, with Cabinet approving the outcome of that legislative review in November 2025.
The provisions remain part of the Draft Constitution and are not currently in force. Cabinet has stated that tabling the Commission’s report does not constitute acceptance or adoption of all its recommendations.
