The government has issued a statement dismissing claims made by the Leader of Opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa and the Leader of the National Federation Party Biman Prasad that Minister for Finance Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum directed the Secretary General of Parliament to make the parliamentary party office funding changes.

The government said the new arrangement was implemented by the Secretary General Viniana Namosimalua in the exercise of the powers conferred upon her under the constitution.

It said that it is quite clear from the letters written by Namosimalua to the parties that she decided in her own right that she will be making and implementing the new arrangement for the funding of staffing of parliamentary offices of political parties.

The government said consultations did take place between the Secretary General and the Minister of Finance, however, there is nothing unconstitutional or improper about an independent constitutional office consulting with the Minister or the Ministry on budgetary and funding issues before and after the announcement of the National Budget.

The government further stated that the new funding arrangement implemented by the Secretary General is a fair and proportional distribution of funding between the parties in parliament.

It stated that it would appear the Opposition finds the new funding arrangement objectionable because FijiFirst is being allocated more funding than them.

The government said as the Opposition, they need to accept the fact that they have much fewer members in parliament and much lesser voter support base hence a lesser allocation under this arrangement.

SODELPA and the National Federation Party are opposing the new system of funding for the parliamentary party offices.

Under the new arrangement, Secretary General to Parliament Viniana Namosimalua stated that each parliamentary party office will get $15,000 per Member of Parliament for the party for the running of the office including the hiring of staff and other expenses relating to the resourcing of the party offices.

According to Namosimalua’s letter to the FijiFirst, SODELPA and NFP, the FijiFirst will receive $480,000 a year, SODELPA will receive $225,000 a year while NFP will get $45,000.

This is based on the number of MPs each party has in parliament.

The Secretary General to Parliament said this arrangement allows parties to be free to utilize these funds as they deem fit.

She said the parties will also choose whoever they want to appoint and pay them what they wish.

Staff appointed by political party offices will not be bound by the terms and conditions of the civil service such as retirement age since the staff will not be civil servants.

Parliament will continue to provide for cleaning services for the political party offices and meet other expenses such as meals, morning tea, and supply appropriate equipment, stationery and utility costs.

Namosimalua said it should be noted that the running of the parliamentary offices of political parties is separate from the responsibilities and functions of the elected government.

This new arrangement is effective from the 1st of this month.

All temporary appointments and extension of appointments of existing staff in the respective political party offices under civil service positions have been revoked with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa said they want the previous terms of staffing arrangements already in place to continue.

She also questioned the government how the parties can get funding from the government if it is not allowed under the Political Parties Registration Decree.

They also claim in a statement that Namosimalua is implementing the directive by Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

However, the government stated that the Opposition is misleading the people as no such directive was given.

Funding of the parliamentary party offices has always been provided by the government.

We have sent questions to the Secretary General Viniana Namosimalua.

She said she will comment later.