Minister dismisses FNU complaint questions

Education Minister Aseri Radrodro has avoided directly addressing questions about staff complaints against Fiji National Uni­versity (FNU) leadership, instead re­peatedly referring reporters to a press statement issued last week.

When asked by the Fiji Sun yesterday about what action his ministry took after being copied into whistleblower emails in December 2024, Mr Radrodro said: "I made a press statement on that. So read up the press statement."

Pressed on whether the recent FNU Council reassignment was illegal with­out amending the FNU Act, he respond­ed: "I have made a statement on that and that's where things are."

When questioned about specific emails from FNU staff copied to him last year, Mr Radrodro appeared dismissive.

"What emails?" he asked, before add­ing: "Like I said, I've made a statement on the FNU issue, so that's where we stand."

In his January 20 press statement, Mr Radrodro expressed support for the government's decision to move FNU oversight from his ministry to the Prime Minister's portfolio.

"As Minister for Education and as Par­ty Leader of SODELPA, I wish to state clearly that my role is to support the leader of Government," Mr Radrodro said in the statement.

Emails sighted by this masthead show Mr Radrodro and Prime Minister Siti­veni Rabuka were copied into staff com­plaints as early as December 18, 2024, alleging discrimination, bullying, and mismanagement by university leader­ship.

One complainant, a former FNU Council member, claimed they waited nearly a year without acknowledgment of their formal complaint submitted to the FNU Council.

Separately, FNU Council chair Seme­sa Karavaki has requested an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister, ex­pressing concern that the university's governing body was excluded from the recent reassignment decision.

The council is calling for an independ­ent international investigation to ad­dress unresolved governance concerns and whistleblower complaints.