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The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) wishes to inform the public of the regrettable but necessary decision to terminate the employment of a foreign Associate Professor, who formerly served as the University Librarian. This decision follows a comprehensive internal audit and investigation, which uncovered significant breaches of procurement policies, financial mismanagement, and misconduct in relation to the acquisition of books for the Universityโs library.
The findings of the investigation revealed that procurement procedures were not followed, with suppliers being handpicked without due process. Payments amounting to over SBD 2.6 million were made for books that were either never delivered or partially supplied. Additionally, there was clear evidence of conflict of interest, price inflation, duplicate invoicing, and fraudulent activity involving external suppliers. The financial loss suffered by the University as a result of these irregularities is substantial, prompting immediate action to safeguard the institutionโs integrity.
In light of the seriousness of these findings, the University librarian was suspended to allow for a fair investigation. Following due process, and after providing him the opportunity to respond to the allegations, the University Council has now taken the firm decision to terminate his employment in accordance with the Solomon Islands National Universityโs Code of Conduct and financial regulations.
Vice Chancellor of SINU, Professor Transform Aqorau, stated, “This is a regrettable situation, and it is never an easy decision to suspend or terminate an academic professional. However, as the national university, we have a duty to uphold the highest standards of governance, transparency, and accountability. Institutions of higher learning must set an example for integrity and trust. This incident underscores the importance of strengthening our financial and procurement processes to prevent such breaches from happening again.”
The University has implemented several immediate measures to strengthen financial governance and prevent similar incidents in the future:
1. Procurement and Financial Reforms โ SINU has revised its procurement policies to include stricter financial controls, independent oversight, and phased payments based on verified deliveries.
2. Legal Action and Financial Recovery โ The University is actively pursuing legal avenues to recover lost funds and has terminated agreements with the implicated suppliers. Efforts are underway to blacklist these entities from any future dealings with SINU.
3. Enhanced Auditing and Compliance Measures โ An external audit has been commissioned to assess and improve compliance mechanisms, ensuring stronger internal controls.
4. Training and Capacity Building โ Relevant staff will undergo procurement and financial management training to ensure full adherence to ethical and procedural standards.
5. Governance Strengthening โ SINU will establish a task force dedicated to financial oversight and risk assessment, reporting directly to the University Council.
SINU remains committed to its mission of providing quality education and research while maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards. This incident serves as a reminder that accountability and due diligence must remain at the core of institutional operations.
We assure students, staff, and the wider public that the University will continue working diligently to uphold the values of integrity and transparency as we build a stronger, more accountable institution for the future.
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