Lawmakers step down fire service budget defence over discrepancies  

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Interior on Friday halted the Federal Fire Service (FFS) budget defence session due to discrepancies in the agency’s 2025 budget proposal and 2024 budget performance.

The Committee identified inconsistencies in the pricing of firefighting trucks. For instance, 10 trucks were reportedly procured at ₦1.5 billion in one case and ₦2.5 billion in another, despite being from the same company and having identical specifications.

This issue was raised when FFS Controller General Jaji Abdulganiyu Idris appeared before the committee, co-chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole and House of Representatives counterpart Abdullahi Aliyu Ahmed, to defend the agency’s 2024 budget performance and 2025 proposal.

Idris attributed the differences to variations in tanker sizes, but lawmakers criticized the absence of detailed explanations in the budget documents.

Oshiomhole described the situation as “over-padding or over-invoicing,” stating, “What you wrote contradicts what you are saying, and we hold you to your written statements.”

The Committee also highlighted issues with ongoing projects, noting missing specifications and unclear contract commitments.

The FFS 2025 budget proposal included a projected outstanding payment of ₦603 billion for existing contracts. Lawmakers questioned the lack of clarity on these commitments, with Oshiomhole stressing the importance of proper documentation.

“We need to appreciate the difference between contract commitments and proposals. Without proper documentation, this committee cannot approve your budget,” Oshiomhole said.

He emphasized fiscal responsibility, stating, “Every ₦10 lost by MDAs, when multiplied across all agencies, becomes an alarming figure. It is our duty to ensure that the little drawn is properly distributed so that every Nigerian gets a sip, especially the poor.”

The Committee also queried the FFS over the lack of proper information and evidence for revenue generated. Idris presented manual receipts, which the committee rejected as insufficient, demanding bank statements and evidence from the Accountant-General’s office.

Due to the numerous discrepancies, the committee stepped down the FFS budget defence, requesting a revised and accurate submission.

Oshiomhole warned, “Work on your documents and submit a proper presentation to this committee. Otherwise, there will be zero allocation for the agency.”

He concluded that the session demonstrated the lawmakers’ dedication to fiscal transparency and the efficient use of public funds, urging the agency to rectify its budgetary inconsistencies to secure funding for 2025.