Opposition MP Jone Usamate has accused the government of potentially using recent legislative changes to the Fiji National University (FNU) as a “ploy” to shift attention away from internal disputes at the institution, raising fresh questions about governance and ongoing investigations as Parliament passed the Fiji National University (Amendment) Bill 2026.
Speaking during debate on the bill, Usamate pointed to long-running tensions between FNU’s council and its vice‑chancellor and asked whether the move to place the university under the Ministry of Strategic Planning — a portfolio that sits with the Prime Minister — might blunt scrutiny of those internal problems. “One of the things that comes to our mind is whether this is a ploy to move attention away from the internal rumblings within the FNU itself – the conflict between the Council and the Vice‑Chancellor,” he told Parliament.
Usamate drew attention to a whistleblower report lodged in January 2025 that, he said, contains allegations of bias and discrimination in management decisions, bullying and victimisation of staff, and abuse of authority within FNU’s leadership. “These are the facts, Mr Speaker, Sir – not something imputed,” he said, noting that the university council itself had taken the matter to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) by lodging a complaint.
With the Amendment Bill now passed, responsibility for FNU’s oversight has shifted from its prior governance arrangements to the Ministry of Strategic Planning under the Prime Minister. Usamate asked whether that administrative change would affect any inquiry by FICAC into the allegations. “If this change takes place, will that investigation with FICAC continue? Will it continue or not?” he asked during debate, highlighting uncertainty among lawmakers over how investigatory and accountability processes will proceed under the new oversight arrangement.
Usamate also questioned whether the stated rationale for the reform — aligning the university more closely with national priorities — was necessary, arguing that national universities around the world already operate with mechanisms to reflect national goals. He cited Singapore as an example where national universities are overseen by the Ministry of Education, but said similar alignment mechanisms exist broadly and therefore the change at FNU warranted further scrutiny.
The passage of the Amendment Bill represents the latest development in a story that has involved both governance anxieties inside FNU and wider political debate about how tertiary institutions should be managed. The incoming legislation centralises administrative responsibility and could alter lines of accountability and oversight. It is not yet clear from parliamentary record whether the government, FNU council or FICAC have issued responses clarifying the status of the January 2025 whistleblower complaint or how investigations will be handled under the new ministerial oversight.
Parliament approved the Fiji National University (Amendment) Bill 2026 amid the exchange, leaving unanswered questions about the future of the alleged probe and how the university’s leadership disputes will be resolved under the new structure.
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