Acting Prime Minister Filimoni Vosarogo has defended the reassignment of the Fiji National University (FNU) from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics.
In a press release authorised by the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Vosarogo said the Prime Minister, as head of government and chair of Cabinet, holds constitutional authority to assign ministerial responsibilities and reallocate government functions.
“Under the Constitution, the Prime Minister appoints ministers and allocates responsibilities, portfolios and titles as he determines from time to time,” Mr Vosarogo said.
“That is his prerogative as he determines the direction of government.”
He said the Prime Minister also has the power to assign responsibility for the conduct of government business and the administration of laws, including assigning responsibilities to himself.
“The Prime Minister has indicated his intent to have responsibility for FNU assigned to align with the planning and strategic vision of government,” he said.
Mr Vosarogo confirmed that the FNU Council had been formally informed of the reassignment by letter dated January 16, 2026, with the transition intended to align the university’s mandate and operations with a whole-of-government planning approach.
“FNU is the only university in Fiji and in the region that is a dual-sector institution, providing both higher education and TVET,” he said.
“This unique feature needs to be expanded and maximised.”
He said placing FNU under the strategic planning ministry would allow the university to play a broader role in addressing national priorities, including workforce development, migration challenges and economic pressures.
“There is growing appetite to treat FNU as a strategic policy asset,” Mr Vosarogo said. “That will be fully realised if it is positioned close to the centre of government’s planning ministry.”
Mr Vosarogo said legislative changes required to formalise the reassignment would be presented to Cabinet once the Prime Minister returns, noting the timing was important as the majority of FNU Council members’ terms expire in February 2026.
