Tevita Boseiwaqa has been identified as the highest-paid municipal leader in Fiji, serving as the acting chief executive officer (CEO) of the Suva City Council. This information came to light through salary disclosures presented in Parliament by Minister for Local Government, Maciu Nalumisa, revealing that Boseiwaqa’s annual salary is set at $159,386. This figure has been established by the Higher Salaries Commission.
The disclosure follows a parliamentary update on the salaries of acting CEOs across various councils in Fiji, including Suva City, Nasinu Town, and Tavua Town, which are currently under the management of special administrators operating in an acting CEO capacity. The method for calculating salaries for acting CEOs in these councils involves a formula where 95 percent of the difference between the Special Administrator’s pay and the CEO’s base salary is added.
As part of the salary report, it was noted that Felix Magnus, the acting CEO of Nasinu Town Council, earns $79,549.80 annually, while Sireli Korovulavula, acting CEO of Tavua Town Council, currently receives a $12,000 annual allowance pending Higher Salaries Commission approval for his full salary. Combined, the total expenditure for the acting CEOs across the three councils amounts to $183,055.66, with an additional $26,252 allocated for allowances related to official responsibilities such as vehicles, mobile phones, internet, and travel.
Furthermore, Minister Nalumisa confirmed that no new positions, such as executive chairs, have been created within the municipal council frameworks, as the ministry does not sanction new roles.
This transparency in municipal salary disclosures marks a positive step toward accountability in local government, reflecting an effort to ensure that salaries and financial allocations are conducted openly. Communities may benefit from an empowered municipal leadership focused on improving services, fostering better governance, and ensuring fiscal responsibility.
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