Sunday 7th February 2021
National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad has asked Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) Chairperson Fay Yee whether a FRCS Board Member Mahmood Khan has been appointed to a senior position within the organisation.
Professor Prasad said FRCS should come clean on the issue and clarify whether or not Khan, who is also a tax agent has been appointed as Advisor to the FRCS Acting Chief Executive Officer.
He said reports of Khan’s appointments comes as FRCS circulated a memorandum to all staff this week asking them to express their interest for voluntary redundancy.
“”If this is true, then it is adding insult to the injury of 155 FRCS workers who have already lost their jobs through redundancy and voluntary redundancy and 105 more who are being targeted in the second round of redundancies”.
“If no or few employees express interest to leave their jobs, then FRCS will enforce compulsory redundancy to meet its target of shedding 260 employees or 25% of its workforce”.
“And this too when a FRCS Board member has been reportedly appointed to a senior position, which if proven correct, is not only nepotism but serious conflict of interest with his role as board member as well as his job as a tax agent”.
“We therefore ask FRCS Chair to clarify immediately whether or not: -
Mahmood Khan, a current FRCS Board Member, has been appointed as Advisor to Acting FRCS CEO , on tax matters, on a salary of $120,000 per annum
This appointment, if confirmed, is in serious conflict of interest with Khan’s role both as a Board member and a tax agent, as well as a clear case of nepotism
Such a position was advertised as per normal recruitment policy
If it was advertised, how many people applied for the position and if not, Why?
105 more FRCS staff are being targeted for either voluntary or enforced redundancy to ensure FRCS meets its target of laying off 260 or 25% of its workforce
Authorized by:
Professor Biman Prasad
Leader
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FRCS Circular:
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