Fiji’s Coalition Government is intensifying efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of public finances, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Prof. Biman Prasad has announced.
Responding to Auditor-General reports and Public Accounts Committee findings that revealed years of wastage, mismanagement and irregular spending — some dating back to 2007 and 2008 — Prof. Prasad said reforms are underway to ensure better oversight.
He further highlighted the government’s priority of producing and presenting financial reports to Parliament in a timely manner.
“At the moment, we are looking at a new system, a digitised system. We had an old payroll system, a 40-year-old, that we were able to replace in the last one and a half years. That is working now. Of course, there are some teething problems that some ministries experienced at the beginning. But I think everybody is getting used to this online reporting,” Prof. Prasad explained.
Prof. Prasad acknowledged the challenges faced during the transition but stressed that online reporting is now largely operational across ministries.
He also pointed to the strengthened role of the Auditor-General’s office, which now has greater powers and full access to ministries’ information, ensuring independent oversight.
“The Coalition Government has created an environment of accountability and transparency, while continuing to address shortcomings highlighted by the Auditor-General across different ministries,”
Prof. Prasad said.
Earlier in March 2025, it was reported in local media that the Auditor-General’s report highlighted ongoing problems with the quality and timeliness of financial statements across government ministries. The 2023 Auditor-General’s Report for the Infrastructure Sector underscored contrasting performances in financial reporting.
While the Ministry of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services received an unmodified audit opinion, indicating its financial statements met the required standards, the Ministry of Waterways and Environment received a modified audit opinion, pointing to continued weaknesses.
Despite concerns raised in previous audits, the Ministry of Waterways and Environment showed little improvement, with the same issues persisting year after year. A major concern identified was the poor quality of draft financial statements, many of which required significant adjustments — a sign of weak internal controls.
The ministry was particularly singled out for repeated problems in this area, while the Ministry of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services demonstrated stronger financial management with fewer adjustments required.
Timeliness also remains a critical problem. Ministries are required to submit their draft financial statements by 31 October each year. While the Ministry of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services met this deadline, the Ministry of Waterways and Environment missed it, contributing to its ongoing qualified audit opinion.
The report further noted delays in responding to audit management letters, which are meant to guide ministries in addressing identified weaknesses. Both the Ministry of Waterways and Environment and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services were flagged for inefficiency in taking timely corrective action.
The Auditor-General stressed that without improvements in meeting deadlines, strengthening internal controls, and acting on audit recommendations, ministries risk undermining public trust and weakening oversight of public resources.
Against this backdrop, Prof. Prasad said the government’s reforms, including the rollout of digitised financial systems, are critical to addressing these gaps. By modernising financial reporting and empowering the Auditor-General’s office, the Coalition Government aims to strengthen accountability, safeguard taxpayer money, and ensure more responsible management of public funds.
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