Govt will not top up the General Accounts of those FNPF members who withdrew their own money during the COVID pandemic

The Government will not put money back in the General Accounts of those FNPF members who had withdrawn their own funds under the COVID-19 Relief Assistance.

During the budget consultation at the Sheraton Fiji Resort, a resort worker told the Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum that most of them were working for a long time and they had a lot of money in their General Accounts however they had to withdraw their own funds during the pandemic.

He also says they did not receive any assistance under the COVID-19 Relief Scheme and asked if Government will be putting money back in their General Accounts.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the Government will not be doing this and they will have to look for $180 million if they are to put money back in the accounts of these people.

He says at this point in time they would rather use this money in other areas.

Sayed-Khaiyum then shared a story of a man who had asked if there would be an increase in the $90 pension for him and his bedridden wife who needs adult diapers which costs them up to $45 a week.

The Attorney General says they would rather help these kind of people than those who have a job.

Sayed-Khaiyum adds he then got in touch with some people and provided diapers to the couple to ensure they no longer have to use their pension money to buy it.