The bureau was still able to conduct the survey, process, analyze and publish the 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey despite 40% reduction in its budget allocation - Naiqama

Sacked CEO of the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, Kemueli Naiqama says it is important to note for the people of Fiji that the bureau was still able to conduct the survey, process, analyze and publish the 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey despite the 40 percent reduction in its 2019-2020 budgetary allocation.

While responding to the Minister for Economy’s statement on the survey, Naiqama says due to the budget reduction, most Established Staff who are Supervisors had to forego their overtime meal entitlements and subsistence allowances despite them having to attend evening and weekend interviews with their enumerators depending on the time preferences of the survey participants.

He has also commended the staff for their full commitment to their duty despite the lack of resources.

According to the 2019/2020 COVID Budget, Household, Income and Expenditure Survey was allocated $1.013 million while Employment and Unemployment Survey was allocated $127,513 under requisition.

In the 2018/2019 National Budget, the Fiji Bureau of Statistics was allocated $7.628 million while in the 2019/2020 COVID National Budget, the bureau was allocated $5.503 million.

We have sent questions to the Minister for Economy on the comments made by Naiqama on the 40 percent budget reduction in 2019/ 2020 of the Fiji Bureau of Statistics. He is yet to respond.