 | *Have the terminated FNU Council members, including chair Seniloli, been made aware of the details regarding the reasons for Radrodro's action? *Have they been given any indication of the powers invoked by Radrodro, under the Fiji National University Act, to terminate the appointments. |
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"The FNU Council instructs the Acting Vice Chancellor (Unaisi Nabobo-Baba) to rescind the contract of the present Registrar, Ms Sarita Harish aka Sarita Devi forthwith with the payment of one month’s salary in |  |
“The Chair of the Council wishes to have it recorded that she is not happy with the decision on the position of FNU Registrar (Sarita Devi), as due process has not been followed. The same goes for the 2 Administrative Assistants and Special Projects Officers. Good Governance is the responsibility of the Council”.
Dr Kesaia Seniloli to Education Minister Aseri Radrodro, April 2023
*Coalition Employment Minister and former FNU Council member AGNI DEO SINGH also accused of interfering in the SARITA DEVI SACKING. |
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 Education Minister Radrodro |  Biman Prasad |  Agni Deo Singh |
FNU Council Appointments and Timeline to Sackings
*The Human Resources Committee (HRC) met in a Special Meeting called by the Chair of the
Committee to discuss a new Contract issued to the Registrar of the Fiji National University, Ms Sarita
Harish aka Sarita Devi, and signed by the Acting Vice Chancellor, effective 1st April 2023, following the
expiry of her three-month contract which expired on 31st March 2023. The HRC unanimously found the
following:
FNU Council Members Selectively SACKED:
Seniloli, Nair, Puamau and Peter Zinck
Dr Kesaia Seniloli
Robin Nair
Dr Priscilla Puamau
1. The Acting Vice Chancellor erroneously and improperly renewed the Contract for three years following external representations made to her on the Registrar’s behalf to renew her contract.
2. The external interventions were inappropriate interventions for the proper functioning of the Fiji National University.
3. In making her decision, a. the Acting Vice Chancellor failed to take into account relevant considerations from the most recent 2022 Audit Reports regarding findings of underperformance by the Registrar in relation to her duties;
b. the Acting Vice Chancellor failed to take into account relevant considerations regarding serious allegations of inappropriate, improper, unacceptable and egregious behaviour, described by the victims as serious “bullying” on the part of the Registrar, reported and provided to the Office of a former Director of Human Resources and to a former Acting Vice Chancellor in the period April to August 2022;
c. the Acting Vice Chancellor failed to take proper account of reports and responses made by the former Director of Human Resources and the former Acting Vice Chancellor, following investigations taken by them in August 2022; and
d. the Acting Vice Chancellor failed to take into account the continuing grievance and the alleged lack of morale of staff who were the alleged victims of alleged offences and omissions of the Registrar and who continue to work in the Office of the Registrar, and those who have resigned from their employment citing in writing that their reason for their resignation was the “bullying”.
4. The Acting Vice Chancellor failed to bring to the attention of the Fiji National University Council in a timely manner the inappropriate representations and pressure put on her to renew the Contract of the Registrar, and failed to seek the Council’s guidance and advice on the matter.
SELECTIVE TARGETTING AND SACKING:
We wonder if there was selective targetting of individual members when the decision to terminate Sarita Devi's contract was a decision of the full Human Resources Sub-Committee and unanimous decision of the full
Fiji National University Council
The Fiji National University has had an overhaul in its Council members where Dr. Kesaia Seniloli is the new Chair while Semesa Karavaki is the Deputy Chair.
Other members include Dr. Priscilla Puamau, Ravindra Nair, Navin Shayam, Ofa Swann, Dr, Enasio Morris, Pravinesh Singh, Peter Zinck, Selina Likutekula Vatuvoka, Dr. Alisi Talatoka Vudiniabola and Veniana Naqasima.
Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro says the appointments have been carried out in accordance with the FNU Act of 2009.
Radrodro says the changes to the FNU Council is in line with the focus of the Coalition Government to ensure Fiji’s universities train people, and equip them with the right skill set and character, which supports Fiji’s National Development Goals through a highly competitive human resource sector.
He says the council members are from various fields of expertise which includes members of the teaching, legal, finance, the health and social sciences professions.
The Minister says ensuring the Council also had gender balance was crucial, and he is particularly pleased to have a great Council composition whose members come with various; and extensive years, of professional experience and leadership that will benefit FNU.
Radrodro says the Coalition Government will continue to support FNU through funding and policy guidance; in recognition of its integral role in the development of Fiji’s human resource sector, through education provision and learning.
He stresses the newly appointed Council members will have a lot riding on them, to work with the academic staff and members of the FNU, so that the University can achieve its intended goals for Fiji; and any regional or international partners, whose students have also chosen to pursue higher education through the FNU.
The Minister says the Ministry of Education expects the FNU Council to update Government on a monthly basis, with respect to the review of the FNU programmes; its viability or further development, and any other expansion or necessary restructure; that the University needs, while it is supporting Fiji’s National Education Agenda.
He says he cannot stress enough, that student education and upskilling is a vital part of building Fiji’s current and future human resource capacity; and therefore the FNU must package itself in such a way that it responds to the needs of students who have gone to FNU as their University of choice.
Radrodro further says he is encouraging all Council members, and staff of FNU, to make students their primary customer; and to impart them with knowledge, skills and character that lasts long after the students exit the University.
He says the power of education extends beyond the development of skills needed for economic success; as it can contribute to nation-building, and reconciliation. Source: Fijivillage News, 24 February 2023
Other members include Dr. Priscilla Puamau, Ravindra Nair, Navin Shayam, Ofa Swann, Dr, Enasio Morris, Pravinesh Singh, Peter Zinck, Selina Likutekula Vatuvoka, Dr. Alisi Talatoka Vudiniabola and Veniana Naqasima.
Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro says the appointments have been carried out in accordance with the FNU Act of 2009.
Radrodro says the changes to the FNU Council is in line with the focus of the Coalition Government to ensure Fiji’s universities train people, and equip them with the right skill set and character, which supports Fiji’s National Development Goals through a highly competitive human resource sector.
He says the council members are from various fields of expertise which includes members of the teaching, legal, finance, the health and social sciences professions.
The Minister says ensuring the Council also had gender balance was crucial, and he is particularly pleased to have a great Council composition whose members come with various; and extensive years, of professional experience and leadership that will benefit FNU.
Radrodro says the Coalition Government will continue to support FNU through funding and policy guidance; in recognition of its integral role in the development of Fiji’s human resource sector, through education provision and learning.
He stresses the newly appointed Council members will have a lot riding on them, to work with the academic staff and members of the FNU, so that the University can achieve its intended goals for Fiji; and any regional or international partners, whose students have also chosen to pursue higher education through the FNU.
The Minister says the Ministry of Education expects the FNU Council to update Government on a monthly basis, with respect to the review of the FNU programmes; its viability or further development, and any other expansion or necessary restructure; that the University needs, while it is supporting Fiji’s National Education Agenda.
He says he cannot stress enough, that student education and upskilling is a vital part of building Fiji’s current and future human resource capacity; and therefore the FNU must package itself in such a way that it responds to the needs of students who have gone to FNU as their University of choice.
Radrodro further says he is encouraging all Council members, and staff of FNU, to make students their primary customer; and to impart them with knowledge, skills and character that lasts long after the students exit the University.
He says the power of education extends beyond the development of skills needed for economic success; as it can contribute to nation-building, and reconciliation. Source: Fijivillage News, 24 February 2023
