PRESS RELEASE AUTHORISED BY THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER- HON. FILIMONI VOSAROGO
The Prime Minister is the head of government. In addition, he is the chairperson of the Fijian Cabinet of Ministers.
Under the constitution, the Prime Minister appoints ministers and allocates to them responsibilities and portfolios and titles as the Prime Minister determines from time to time.
That is his prerogative as he determines the direction of government.
The Prime Minister also carries the powers under the constitution to assign to any Minister or to himself, responsibilities for the conduct of any specified business of government.
He can also assign implementation and administration of any laws.
He has indicated his intent to have the responsibility of the FNU assigned to align to the planning and strategic vision of government.
The Fiji National University Council (“the Council”) has been informed of the reassignment of the functions, operations and management of the Fiji National University (“FNU”) from the Ministry of Education (“MOE”) to the Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics (“MSPNDS”).
The Chair of the Council and members have been informed by letter dated 16 January 2026.
The transition from the MOE to the MSPNDS is designed to align FNU’s mandate, functions and powers to Fiji’s whole of government planning and national priorities.
FNU is the only university in Fiji and in the region that is a dual sector university. It provides higher education and TVET.
This unique feature of FNU needs to be expanded and maximised.
It needs to be part of the national planning process, delivering its dual sector functionality in line with our national plans and strategic priorities.
Whilst FNU under the MOE was necessary in its initiation until now, it was always envisaged that the FNU will grow the capacity to deliver more than just higher education and TVET programs.
It can both do its functionalities and also address the systemic priorities of government and be part of our nation’s planning.
This is where the FNU assignment to the MSPNDS comes in.
It is now well- resourced to provide think tank capability within the university that can map the bridge between government, education and society development.
There is growing appetite to treat FNU as a strategic policy asset and that will be fully realized if it is close to the centre of government’s planning ministry.
The model created with this new direction has had profound impacts in the UK, Australia and Singapore and works in changing global challenges of employment creation, work migration and economic pressures.
On the return of the Prime Minister, the legislative change requirement will be introduced into Cabinet for its approval.
It is important that the directive on policy change be conveyed to the Council as majority of the members term comes to an end in February 2026.