By Mercy Aikoye
The National Assembly Joint Committee on Interior has queried the Federal Fire Service (FFS) over discrepancies in its budget proposal, stepping down the agency’s budget defense in the process. This decision was made after the FFS Controller General, Jaji Abdulganiyu Idris, appeared before the committee to defend the 2024 budget performance and 2025 proposal.
During the scrutiny, lawmakers discovered inconsistencies in the pricing of firefighting trucks. For instance, 10 trucks were procured at N1.5 billion in one instance and at N2.5 billion in another, despite being from the same company and having the same specifications. Idris attributed the differences to variations in tanker sizes, but lawmakers criticized the omission of such critical details from the budget documents.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chair of the Senate Committee on Interior, remarked, “This is what some may call over-padding or over-invoicing. It is a very serious matter. What you wrote contradicts what you are saying, and we hold you to your written statements.” The committee also flagged ongoing projects with missing specifications and unclear contract commitments.
The FFS budget proposal for 2025 included a projected outstanding payment of N603 billion for existing contracts, but lawmakers questioned the lack of clarity on these commitments. Oshiomhole stressed, “We need to appreciate the difference between contract commitments and proposals. Without proper documentation, this committee cannot approve your budget.”
Lawmakers also raised concerns about the FFS’s budget proposal, particularly discrepancies in figures and lack of proper documentation. The committee queried the agency for lack of proper information on and evidence for revenue it generated. Idris was unable to provide proof of revenue remittance, presenting manual receipts that the committee rejected as insufficient.
The lawmakers demanded bank statements and evidence from the Accountant-General’s office to validate the transactions. Following the numerous discrepancies, the committee decided to step down the FFS budget defense, demanding 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.”
Oshiomhole emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility and accountability, stating, “When you come before this committee, be ready. We will be critical, not to cause you trouble, but to ensure Nigerians get value for money.” He noted that the government should be less wasteful, as every N10 lost by MDAs becomes an alarming figure when multiplied across all agencies.
The Agency now faces the challenge of rectifying its budgetary inconsistencies to secure funding for 2025. As the Federal Government commits to modernizing fire and rescue services, the FFS must ensure transparency and accountability in its budget proposals.
