Agni Deo Singh

{{Short description|Fijian politician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}

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| name = Agni Deo Singh

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| image = Agni Deo Singh Waitangi 2023.jpg

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| office8 = Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations

| primeminister8 = Sitiveni Rabuka

| term_start8 = 24 December 2022

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| predecessor8 = Premila Kumar

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| constituency_MP10 = NFP List

| parliament10 = Fijian

| term_start10 = 14 December 2022

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| constituency_MP11 = Macuata East Open

| parliament11 = Fijian

| term_start11 = 13 May 2006

| term_end11 = 5 December 2006

| predecessor11 = Krishna Datt

| successor11 = None (Parliament disestablished)

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| party = Fiji Labour Party
National Federation Party

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Agni Deo Singh is an Indo-Fijian trade unionist, politician, and Cabinet Minister. He served as general secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) from 1999 to 2006, and again from 2007 to 2022. After being elected to the Parliament of Fiji in the 2022 election, he is currently Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations in the coalition government.

Singh was born in rural Macuata in Vanua Levu, the second largest island in the Fiji Archipelago. He trained as a teacher at Corpus Christi Teachers College before completing a diploma and bachelor of arts at the University of the South Pacific.{{cite web |url=https://www.fijitimes.com/2022-general-election-i-want-fundamental-human-rights-respected-singh/ |title=2022 General Election: I want fundamental human rights respected – Singh |publisher=Fiji Times |author=Shayal Devi |date=6 December 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022}} He worked as a teacher in Kadavu, Nausori, and Nasinu. In 1980, he became the secretary of the Rewa branch of the Fiji Teachers Union and in 1984, became the chairman of the branch. In 1987, he became the branch representative to attend national executive meetings and in 1992 became the assistant general secretary. In 1999, following the election of the incumbent, Pratap Chand to Parliament, he was elected general secretary of the FTU. As FTU secretary, he campaigned against the racist education policies of the Laisenia Qarase-led government.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/149143/fiji-educaton-ministry-accused-of-racism |title=Fiji {{sic|nolink=y|educaton}} ministry accused of racism |publisher=RNZ |date=16 June 2004 |access-date=28 December 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/152952/fiji-teachers-union-leader-says-policy-racially-based |title=Fiji teachers union leader says policy racially based |publisher=RNZ |date=27 January 2005 |access-date=28 December 2022}}

He was elected to Parliament in the 2006 Fijian general election on the Fiji Labour Party ticket from Macuata East Open Constituency,{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.gov.fj/results2006/constituencies/69.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927153620/http://www.elections.gov.fj/results2006/constituencies/69.html |title=ELECTION RESULTS BY THE COUNT |publisher=Fiji Elections Office |archive-date=27 September 2007}} but continued in his role as FTU general secretary.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/163608/striking-fiji-teaching-staff-refuse-to-budge |title=Striking Fiji teaching staff refuse to budge |publisher=RNZ |date=26 July 2006 |access-date=28 December 2022}} Shortly after being elected he was one of a group of Labour MPs who challenged party leader Mahendra Chaudhry's nominees to the Senate of Fiji,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/163034/fiji-labour-party-overrules-leader |title=Fiji Labour Party overrules leader |publisher=RNZ |date=28 June 2006 |access-date=28 December 2022}} and as a result was threatened with expulsion from the party.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/163233/a-chaudhry-loyalist-denies-split-in-fiji-labour-party |title=A Chaudhry loyalist denies split in Fiji labour Party |publisher=RNZ |date=7 July 2006 |access-date=28 December 2022}} In August 2006, just before the High Court could rule on the issue, the Labour Party dropped disciplinary charges,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/164092/fiji-labour-party-drops-internal-disciplinary-charges |title=Fiji Labour Party drops internal disciplinary charges |publisher=RNZ |date=16 August 2006 |access-date=28 December 2022}} then immediately revived them once the threat of court action had passed.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/164197/fiji-labour-party-rift-deepens-on-report-of-new-attempts-to-discipline-dissidents |title=Fiji Labour Party rift deepens on report of new attempts to discipline dissidents |publisher=RNZ |date=22 August 2006 |access-date=28 December 2022}} Ultimately Singh escaped expulsion,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/166445/fiji-labour-party-expels-five-of-its-members |title=Fiji Labour Party expels five of its members |publisher=RNZ |date=29 November 2006 |access-date=28 December 2022}} but lost his seat in parliament when the House of Representatives of Fiji was disestablished by the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.

Following the coup Singh returned to his post in the trade union,{{Cite web |url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=60324 |title=Horseback teacher rides against injustice |access-date=2007-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930154617/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=60324 |archive-date=2007-09-30 |url-status=dead }} On 14 April 2007, Singh was re-elected to the post of General Secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union.{{cite news | title = Agni Deo Singh retains post | url = http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=60759 | publisher = Fiji Times | date = 15 April 2007 | access-date = 24 April 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930163723/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=60759 | archive-date = 30 September 2007 | url-status = dead }} where he campaigned against forced pay cuts by the military regime.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/167631/fiji-public-service-threatens-resistance-to-proposed-pay-cuts |title=Fiji public service threatens resistance to proposed pay cuts |publisher=RNZ |date=5 February 2007 |access-date=28 December 2022}} In March 2007 the FTU voted for strike action in violation of state of emergency decrees,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/168608/fiji-teachers-vote-for-industrial-action-to-fight-pay-cuts |title=Fiji teachers vote for industrial action to fight pay cuts |publisher=RNZ |date=21 March 2007 |access-date=28 December 2022}} resulting in a warning from the military regime.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/168646/fiji-public-sector-unions-silent-on-military's-warning |title=Fiji public sector unions silent on military's warning |publisher=RNZ |date=23 March 2007 |access-date=28 December 2022}} In 2007 he supported the regime's Employment Relations Bill, but wanted it to be passed by a legally elected government.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/172854/mixed-reaction-to-decision-to-shelve-fiji's-new-employment-relations-bill-for-six-months |title=Mixed reaction to decision to shelve Fiji's new Employment Relations Bill for six months |publisher=RNZ |date=24 September 2007 |access-date=28 December 2022}} In 2008 he campaigned for teachers to be given backpay for the regime-imposed pay cuts,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/176954/fiji-public-servants-still-chasing-backpay-as-wage-cuts-are-slowly-restored |title=Fiji public servants still chasing backpay as wage cuts are slowly restored |publisher=RNZ |date=5 May 2008 |access-date=28 December 2022}} and against the regime's cuts in teacher numbers.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/180214/fiji's-confederation-of-public-sector-unions-angry-at-interim-govt's-move |title=Fiji's confederation of public sector unions angry at interim govt's move |publisher=RNZ |date=6 November 2008 |access-date=28 December 2022}} In 2012 he campaigned against the regime's Public Order Amendment Decree, which restricted freedom of speech.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/204408/fiji-teachers-union-wants-new-public-order-act-removed |title=Fiji Teachers Union wants new Public Order Act removed |publisher=RNZ |date=8 May 2012 |access-date=28 December 2022}}

In April 2021 he was re-elected as FTU general secretary.{{cite web |url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/feo-releases-provisional-ftu-election-result/ |title=FEO releases provisional FTU election result |publisher=FBC News |author=Praneeta Prakash |date=18 April 2021 |access-date=28 December 2022}} In January 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic he called for schools to stay closed and to re-open only when physical distance was no longer necessary,{{cite web |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Re-open-schools-when-physical-distancing-is-no-longer-necessary--FTU-48rxf5 |title=Re-open schools when physical distancing is no longer necessary – FTU |publisher=Fiji Village |author= Shanil Singh |date=3 January 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022}} and expressed concern about the number of teachers becoming infected.{{cite web |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/FTU-claims-more-than-500-teachers-are-in-isolation-48xrf5 |title=FTU claims more than 500 teachers are in isolation |publisher=Fiji Village |author=Iva Danford |date=10 January 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022}} He also opposed teachers being told to return to school during Cyclone Cody.{{cite web |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/FTU-questions-Ministrys-decision-to-call-teachers-unaffected-by-flooding-back-to-work-rx548f |title=FTU questions Ministry’s decision to call teachers unaffected by flooding back to work |publisher=Fiji Village |author=Shanil Singh |date=10 January 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022}} He was subsequently attacked by then-Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and education minister Premila Kumar, who suggested his views were due to plans to become an election candidate.{{cite web |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Nobody-asked-the-teachers-to-go-to-school-during-the-cyclone-Im-informed-Agni-Deo-Singh-will-stand-as-a-candidate---AG-4rf8x5 |title=Nobody asked the teachers to go to school during the cyclone, I’m informed Agni Deo Singh will stand as a candidate - AG |publisher=Fiji Village |author=Iva Danford |date=18 January 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/202-teachers-are-COVID-positive-to-date-and-it-is-not-the-exaggerated-numbers-by-Singh--Kumar-x5r4f8 |title=202 teachers are COVID positive to date and it is not the exaggerated numbers by Singh – Kumar |publisher=Fiji Village |author=Iva Danford |date=20 January 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Education-Minister-questions-the-sincerity-of-Agni-Deo-Singh-towards-his-members-fx485r |title=Education Minister questions the sincerity of Agni Deo Singh towards his members |publisher=Fiji Village |author= Naveel Krishant |date=17 July 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022}}

In April 2022 he attended the National Federation Party AGM.{{cite web |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/NFP-and-Peoples-Alliance-working-together-to-rescue-Fiji-from-crisis---Rabuka--rxf485 |title=NFP and People's Alliance working together to rescue Fiji from crisis - Rabuka |publisher=Fiji Village |author= Navitalai Naivalurua |date=4 April 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022}} He subsequently contested the 2022 Fijian general election as an NFP candidate,{{cite web |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Founder-of-FRIEND-Sashi-Kiran-and-former-FTU-General-Secretary-Agni-Deo-Singh-part-of-the-last-batch-of-NFPs-proposed-candidates-4rxf85 |title=Founder of FRIEND Sashi Kiran and former FTU General Secretary Agni Deo Singh part of the last batch of NFP’s proposed candidates |publisher=Fiji Village |author= Krishneel Nair , Vijay Narayan |date=4 November 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022}} and placed third on the party list with 2,308 votes.{{cite web |url=https://2022results.feo.org.fj/Home/CandidateResults?Id=102&CandidateBallotNumber=274&Year=2022+Official |title=Agni Deo Singh (274) |publisher=Fijian Elections Office |access-date=28 December 2022}} On 24 December 2022 he was appointed Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations in the coalition government of Sitiveni Rabuka.{{cite web |url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/parliament/siromi-turaga-sworn-in-as-new-ag/ |title=Siromi Turaga sworn in as new AG |publisher=FBC News |author=Apenisa Waqairadovu |date=24 December 2022 |access-date=24 December 2022}}