The Accident Compensation Commission Fiji (ACCF) has reported a significant early expenditure of its allocated budget for the 2025–2026 financial year, utilizing 34.4% of its $7 million budget within just two months. This revelation was made during a parliamentary session on Tuesday, where the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh, disclosed that the ACCF spent $2.4 million between August and September 2025.
Despite this prompt expenditure, Mr. Singh highlighted ongoing challenges stemming from prior management issues. He noted a staggering backlog of over 13,000 compensation claims that had not been processed due to insufficient follow-up by the previous administration. “We inherited 13,176 forms that were received by ACCF, but the injured workers were not notified to apply for compensation,” he explained, lamenting that approximately 40 to 50 percent of these claims may go unaddressed because they fall under a three-year time limitation for applications.
This situation underscores a critical failure of former ACCF leadership, leaving thousands of injured individuals without access to timely compensation. With improvements underway, the current administration is taking proactive steps to ensure that compensation processes are streamlined and that injured parties receive the support they deserve.
In light of these developments, the ACCF’s commitment to enhance operational efficiency aligns with its ongoing legislative changes and focus on motor vehicle accident compensation. Since its inception, the ACCF has disbursed over $82 million, underscoring its pivotal role in supporting victims of various accidents, including motor vehicle incidents, workplace injuries, and school-related accidents.
The current reforms aim to create a more responsive compensation system. As the ACCF continues to refine its procedures, the government is hopeful about fostering a more effective framework that provides timely assistance and enhances public confidence in the compensation process for all affected parties.
This renewed focus marks a step towards accountability and better support for those in need, reflecting ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of injured Fijians.