Recent allegations concerning the Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro regarding interference in disciplinary matters, unlawful termination of staff, and abuse of power within the Ministry’s human resource functions has been refuted by the Acting Deputy Secretary Primary Secondary, Timoci Bure.
Bure says at this point in time the decision to terminate these four Human Resource officers resulted from a rigorous evaluation process aimed at maintaining the integrity and efficacy of the Ministry’s HR practices.
Bure says this decision was made based on a thorough review of their performance and adherence to the Ministry’s policies.
He stresses that it is crucial to note that this matter is currently under judicial review, as these individuals have chosen to contest their termination in court.
Bure say as this case proceeds through the legal system, these HR officers must respect and adhere to the principle of due process and respect the ongoing legal proceedings.
He says allegations that these terminations were retaliatory are unsubstantiated and contradicted by the fact that these officers were reappointed after undergoing the formal recruitment process during the Minister’s temporary dismissal and their subsequent termination occurred following their return to office and after due process.
While speaking to fijivillage News, Taito Waradi, a former Manager for Appointments Units for the Ministry, claims he is being victimized by those who hold office at the Ministry, including the Minister for not responding to all his emails and claims that he and other were dismissed from duty with out any reason.
The former Manager says on the 6th of January this year, he was issued a termination letter with immediate effect – a letter issued by their Director Corporate Edwin Kumar.
Waradi claims during his meeting with Kumar, he questioned him on the grounds of his termination in which he replied he was not any position to elaborate and was instructed to only give the letter.
He says he wrote to the Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro and his Permanent Secretary, and the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka but no one has replied to his emails or calls.
He adds the Acting Permanent Secretary, Meli Nacuva, never has the courtesy to reply to his emails, and he has evidence to back this up.
The former Manager claims he has been victimized and his other colleagues are also victims of this system.
Bure has categorically denies any unlawful interference by the Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro in disciplinary processes or staff terminations and states that all employment decisions have been conducted in strict accordance with the Employment Relations Act 2007 (ERA), the Constitution of Fiji 2013, and the General Orders 2011.
He says these frameworks mandate due process, including proper notice periods and payment of entitlements where applicable where by the former HR managers’ grievances have been formally lodged with the Ministry of Employment’s Mediation Department, which is the appropriate legal channel for resolving such disputes under the ERA.
Bure says the Ministry respects this process and will abide by any rulings or subsequent judicial outcomes.
Furthermore, Bure says the recruitment process and alleged abuse of power claims that the Minister unlawfully brought in a staff member from Parliament without following recruitment protocols have been internally reviewed.
The Ministry confirms adherence to the Fijian Civil Service Open Merit Recruitment and Selection Guidelines, the Public Service Act 1999, all of which ensure merit based, transparent, and competitive recruitment processes.
The Acting Deputy Secretary says the Minister’s involvement in recruitment decisions is within his legal authority and it should also be taken into consideration that sideways transfers are allowed within government ministries, and it depends on the Head of Government approving the process.
Bure says the Minister did not just pluck out of oblivion and Parliament, as an independent government arm, was approached and formal releases were granted to the officer to transfer to the Ministry.
The Deputy Secretary Primary Secondary stressed that the Education Minister has publicly emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to transparency, fairness, accountability, and merit-based appointments, urging the HR Department to fill vacant posts through proper processes and to avoid internal advertisements that may limit fair competition.
He adds the Ministry of Education, under Radrodro’s leadership, has acted lawfully, transparently, and in full compliance with Fiji’s legal and procedural frameworks.
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