Recent disclosures in Parliament indicate that Felix Magnus, the acting chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nasinu Town Council, has earned a total of $110,288 within five months of his appointment, surpassing the $98,610 received by Tevita Boseiwaqa, the acting CEO of the Suva City Council. Both appointments were made on July 4, 2024, and the figures were presented by Maciu Nalusima, the Minister for Local Government, this week.
Mr. Magnus, whose base salary amounts to $90,750, received an additional $19,538 in allowances. In contrast, Mr. Boseiwaqa has a salary of $92,305 plus allowances totaling $6,305. The combined payment for the three councils, which also includes an acting CEO from Tavua, amounts to $183,055.66 in salaries and $26,252.00 in allowances. These allowances cover the costs of official vehicles, mobile phones, internet access, and travel expenses for official duties.
Following the Coalition Government’s decision in December 2023 to appoint special administrators to various municipal councils, the Ministry of Local Government emphasized that these appointments were made based on merit. The ministry stated that these administrators are locals well-versed in community needs, and the councils have been operating autonomously since their appointments.
Mr. Nalusima further clarified that the salary scales for the special administrators and acting CEOs were determined under the Higher Salaries Commission Act 2023, taking into account the size of the councils.
The need for acting CEOs was underscored by Mr. Nalusima, who explained that their roles were crucial in streamlining municipal services, enhancing infrastructure development, and achieving financial stability within the councils. The appointments are intended to be temporary until qualified CEOs can be recruited, with the assistance of KPMG Advisory (Fiji) Ltd, tasked with managing the recruitment process. This process is expected to start this month and conclude by early 2025, aiming to attract visionary leaders to drive the councils’ reform agendas.
Between January and November 2024, the total expenditure on special administrators and acting CEOs across 13 municipal councils reached approximately $944,670.68, which includes various allowances covering meals and travel.
This emphasis on reform, accountability, and transparency in municipal management holds promise for enhanced governance and improved service delivery in the councils, potentially leading to a brighter future for local communities.
In summary, the government is actively taking steps to strengthen local governance through strategic appointments and rigorous recruitment processes, creating an optimistic outlook for municipal services going forward.
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