Tevita Boseiwaqa, the acting chief executive officer of Suva City Council, has been identified as the highest-paid municipal leader in Fiji, with an annual salary of $159,386. This information was disclosed during a parliamentary session by the Minister for Local Government, Maciu Nalumisa.

The revelation was part of a broader update regarding the salaries of acting CEOs across different municipal councils in Fiji, prompted by a written inquiry in Parliament. Currently, Suva City Council, along with Nasinu Town Council and Tavua Town Council, is managed by special administrators serving as acting CEOs.

The salaries of acting CEOs are derived from a specific calculation that factors in 95 percent of the difference between the Special Administrator’s salary and the base salary of the permanent CEO, as outlined in the report. For instance, Felix Magnus, the acting CEO of Nasinu Town Council, earns an annual salary of $79,549.80, while Sireli Korovulavula, the acting CEO of Tavua Town Council, is receiving a $12,000 allowance, awaiting the Higher Salaries Commission’s approval for his full salary.

The total expenditure for the salaries of acting CEOs in these three councils amounts to $183,055.66, alongside an additional $26,252 allocated for allowances that cover official vehicles, mobile phones, internet access, and travel expenses for official duties.

Minister Nalumisa further indicated that the creation of executive chair positions, raised in prior questions, has not been sanctioned, as the ministry does not endorse new roles within municipal council structures.

This transparency regarding salaries may foster greater accountability within local governance, promoting efforts for equitable compensation across various councils and potentially enhancing public trust in municipal authorities.