Gounder clarifies civil service increase

Fiji's civil service has expanded significantly over the last decade, growing by approximately 10,000 employees to a total of 42,000, stated Shiri Gounder, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Finance. He provided this clarification during Dialogue Fiji’s National Budget Forum in Suva, responding to a query from Dr. Mosmi Bhim of the Fiji National University.

Dr. Bhim had noted that during a previous forum, former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had stated the civil service numbered 32,000 under the FijiFirst Government, indicating a 31% increase to the current 42,000. Gounder explained that this growth stems from increases in key sectors: the police force, teaching staff, and medical professionals. Specifically, he mentioned over 1,000 additional police officers, close to 1,500 more teachers, and nearly 500 additional medical professionals have been recruited since 2016.

Another contributing factor to the expanded civil service is the increase in the number of government ministries, each requiring additional staff. Gounder's clarification addresses concerns about the size and cost of public administration in Fiji. The financial implications are substantial, with the Finance Minister, Esrom Immanuel, stating in his 2026-2027 Budget address that the total daily cost of the civil service, encompassing wages, salaries, office space, equipment, and operational expenses, is around $9 million. Annually, this amounts to over $2.3 billion for wages, salaries, and support services, representing almost half of the nation's total budget.