Seruiratu labels budget as satisfactory but warns about rising debt

Leader of Opposition Inia Seruitatu has labeled the 2025-2026 National Budget as satisfactory but stresses the importance of maintaining a balance between expenditure and income, given the high debt level and deficit.

While responding to questions by fijivillage News, Seruiratu says they appreciate the assistance but let's be considerate because in the end, we are all taxpayers, and we are the ones that will foot the bill itself.

He says they appreciate the 5 percent increase in social welfare allowance across the board but we cannot have all that we want and the responsibility lies squarely with the recipients as well.

Seruiratu further says the decision by the government to allow school management full autonomy of the Free Education Grant is bold and he hopes the monitoring system will be effective.

He says they have had experiences in the past where funds were not used to the very purpose it was meant for or abused.

The Leader of Opposition has also welcomed the huge investments that are in the pipeline for the health sector but says that in the meantime, there is a lot of maintenance work carried out by government however, the new facilities will have impact.

The 2025-2026 National Budget debate will start on the 14th of July.