Nauru govt in turmoil after ministers resign

Nauru's reformist government led by Ludwig Scotty is in turmoil after three senior ministers resigned.

The ABC has reported health minister Dr Kieran Keke, the minister for resources and rehabilitation Frederick Pitcher, and justice minister Roland Kun have all quit the government after a falling out with Foreign Minister David Adeang.

It is possible there will be a leadership spill on Tuesday when the parliament next sits.

However, Nauru's consul-general to Australia Martin Hunt told AAP he was unaware the ministers had resigned.

"I know there were a few misunderstandings (between Nauru politicians) . . . I had heard they were thinking of resigning," Hunt said.

In Nauru the parliament decides who will be president, and Scotty is in his second term of office.

In August he secured 14 votes from the country's 18 parliamentarians to defeat presidential contender Marcus Stephen.

A hallmark of Scotty's government has been financial reforms brought in to try to reverse the economic decline of the country.

He ousted former leader Rene Harris in 2003.

Nauru was once one of the richest per capita nations in the world thanks to its immense phosphate deposits, but in 2002 it became bankrupt.

It now relies heavily on Australian aid.

Australia has reportedly given more than $100 million to Nauru during the past five years.

About 13,500 people live in Nauru, which has a landmass of only 21 square kilometres.

Nauru became an independent nation in 1968.

- AAP