USP staff salaries to be scrutinised by the Fiji interim government

The salaries of senior staff at the University of the South Pacific has come under the spotlight after leaked documents showed that one executive allegedly received FJD$470,000 (SBD$1,880,000) tax free.

The confidential documents which purport to be payslips of eight senior staff were sent to emails of staff at the regional institution.

The documents showed that the salary package of seven staff members ranged from FJD$234,537.55 (SBD$938,148) to FJD$339,937.46 (SBD$1,359,748). Each of them allegedly received FJD$4000/month (~SBD$16,000) in housing allowance.

Fiji Television reports that an official response from the university labelled the information untrue.

Fiji's Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry appeared shocked by the revelation. He said that the Fiji Government will have to re-look at its funding of the institution by over FJD$3million (SBD$12million) this year.

He said the Government will conduct an operations efficiency audit.

Meanwhile, deputy army commander Esala Teleni, who heads Fiji's anti-corruption unit, says they are investigating a complaint of abuse of office and mismanagement by an executive of USP.

Source: Fijilive