Another government MP in Fiji has resigned.
Fiji's Immigration, National Security and Defence Minister, Timoci Natuva, has resigned two years into his first parliamentary term. Photo: RNZ
FBC reports the Minister for Immigration, National Security and Defence, Timoci Natuva, has resigned for personal reasons.
Fiji Village reports Mr Natuva saying he wants to spend more time with his family after a long career in the military and public service.
Mr Natuva is a former colonel in the Fiji military.
The Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says he has personally assumed Mr Natuva's ministerial duties for the time being until Mr Natuva's replacement is made.
According to electoral rules, Apakuki Kurusiga, who is the next highest-polling candidate for FijiFirst, will replace him.
Mr Kurusiga received 565 votes in the 2014 election.
Last year he was appointed chairman of the board of Fiji TV. He is also a retired army officer, serving in the middle east on peacekeeping missions.
Mr Natuva is the fifth Government MP to resign since the September 2014 election.
Dr Neil Sharma, the former health minister, resigned in April 2015, and an investigation was opened by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.
In May, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, and the leader of the Government in the Parliament, Pio Tikoduadua, resigned due to illness.
Jioji Konrote resigned in October last year to take up the post of President, while in the same month Sanjit Patel resigned to put more time into his business.
