The National Security and Defence Review Report has disclosed that Fiji’s National Security & Defence Council lacks a legislative or constitutional foundation. The report, released by Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua, states that any decisions made by the National Security & Defence Council (NSDC) must be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.
According to the report, “The NSDC requires a formal legal basis to operate. It also necessitates a resourced Secretariat, which can be provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs using its own resources. The establishment of a Secretaries Committee on National Security will enhance the role and scope of the NSDC, supporting its functions.”
The Council is composed of the Prime Minister, the Minister for Home Affairs, the Attorney-General, and the Minister for Finance. The Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs serves as the secretary, while the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the Commissioner of Police hold permanent membership in the NSDC.
In Fiji’s republican system of government, executive authority rests with the President, who acts on the Prime Minister’s advice. The Prime Minister carries out the primary executive functions of government, including national security, through the Cabinet’s collective decision-making process. Notably, unlike other Westminster-style governments, the Cabinet’s formation is codified in Fiji’s 2013 Constitution.