National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad says the Minister for Education Premila Kumar is basically blaming her Permanent Secretary, Dr Anjeela Jokhan by evading the issue of non-payment of fortnightly salaries due last week to some teachers in the Western Division.
He has made this comment after Kumar told Legend FM News today that the Permanent Secretary should answer the questions relating to concerns raised by the Fiji Teachers Union who are demanding answers as to why a number of teachers in the West did not receive their pay last week.
Professor Prasad says Kumar must stop passing the buck.
He says irrespective of whether or not one is the operational head of the ministry, anyone should be concerned about the welfare and livelihood of their staff.
The NFP Leader says in this case under the doctrine of ministerial responsibility, the buck stops with the minister.
He says if ministers can claim credit for any good that happens, they must also take responsibility for the mess and bungling in their respective ministries.
When approached for a response on the Fiji Teachers Union’s concerns regarding the non-payment of salaries of some teachers last week, Kumar referred questions to Jokhan.
We sent questions to Jokhan yesterday afternoon. She will not comment. We have again contacted her for a response on the issue.
