New Ministers and Assistant Ministers pay should not affect taxpayers – PM

New Ministers and Assistant Ministers pay should not affect taxpayers – PM

By Rashika Kumar , Mansi Chand
10/01/2025
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed that the pay for the 7 Ministers and Assistant Ministers sworn in today will be catered for in the current budget and it should not affect taxpayers.

While responding to questions by fijivillage News, Rabuka says he has received notification from the Minister for Finance that it can be handled from within the budget.

When asked if the new appointments will affect taxpayers in the National Budget through increases in tax and vat, Rabuka says this should not affect the taxpayers.

While also responding to criticism that the money to be used to pay these Ministers and Assistant Ministers could have been better used in other sectors such as health and pay for civil servants, Rabuka says all that is being catered for in the current budget, and any other pay increases will have to be processed through the normal negotiations.

While justifying the appointment, Rabuka says the people will be served better and they will have efficient leaders in the Ministries he held before.

When questioned on what challenges the current Ministers are facing, Rabuka says they were overloaded.

He says all these new Ministers are taking over a portfolio that he held, and it has restricted him in his overall role as the Prime Minister.

Rabuka says his prime objective right now, is to take the government successfully to its end of this term in 2026 and what happens after that is in the hands of the voters.

He says they were not brought in just to get the numbers to amend the Constitution.

FEATURE NEWS
Body found along Princes Road near Sawani this morning
A body was found along Princes Road near Sawani this morning. Body found along Princes Road near Sawani this morninghttps://t.co/M26cZY2reC pic.twi...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
FHL Group conducts clean-up campaign along Suva foreshore
Staff from Fijian Holdings Limited (FHL) and its subsidiaries- Merchant Finance Limited, FHL Properties Limited, and Fijian Holdings Unit Trust— ...
12 minutes ago

Woman raises concerns about safety and security in neighbourhoods after stoning of the car she was driving
A woman is raising concerns about the safety and security in our neighbourhoods after the rental car she was driving was stoned and broken into at ...
26 minutes ago

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members celebrate diversity of culture, marking 70th Anniversary
Hundreds of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came together at the FMF Gymnasium last night to celebrate the different ...
30 minutes ago

47 families in Narere PRB Estate handed offer letters to become official homeowners
47 families living in the PRB Estate in Narere were filled with joy and emotions after they were handed their offer letters from the Public Rental ...
30 minutes ago

Supreme Court blocks Trump from restarting Alien Enemies Act deportations
The Supreme Court yesterday blocked President Donald Trump from moving forward with deportations under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act for a group of ...
4 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH

Tragedy at PRB Flats: Couple found dead in suspected murder-suicide in April
A couple were found dead at the new Lagilagi Public Rental Board Flats today and it is alleged at this stage that it was a murder suicide case on ...
12 days ago

Tevita Ikanivere on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
The show focuses on Ikanivere’s journey, his family, career and how far the Drua has ...
25 days ago

TOP