The National Assembly Joint Committee on Interior has raised concerns over discrepancies in the Federal Fire Service’s (FFS) 2025 budget proposal, resulting in the suspension of the agency’s budget defence on Friday.
The issue arose during a session where FFS Controller General, Jaji Idris, appeared before the committee, co-chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, and Abdullahi Ahmed, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Interior, to discuss the agency’s 2024 budget performance and 2025 budget proposal.
Among the key issues flagged by the committee were irregularities in the procurement of fire trucks. Specifically, the committee pointed out that 10 trucks were procured at varying prices N1.5 billion in one instance and N2.5 billion in another despite being sourced from the same company, with identical specifications. While Idris explained that the price difference stemmed from varying tanker sizes, lawmakers criticized the lack of detailed justification in the submitted budget documents.
A visibly frustrated Senator Oshiomhole described the issue as “over-padding” or “over-invoicing,” emphasizing that the documents provided contradicted the explanations given by the FFS. He warned the agency that the discrepancies raised serious concerns over fiscal accountability.
The committee also flagged ongoing projects that lacked proper specifications and clear contract details. The FFS’s 2025 budget proposal included a projected N603 billion for outstanding payments related to ongoing contracts, but lawmakers questioned the lack of comprehensive documentation regarding these contracts.
Oshiomhole stressed the need for clarity in budget proposals, stating, “We need to appreciate the difference between contract commitments and proposals. Without proper documentation, this committee cannot approve your budget.” He underscored the importance of fiscal responsibility, highlighting that the government must ensure value for money and minimize waste in public spending.
The committee also questioned the FFS’s reporting on revenue generation, noting that the agency failed to provide sufficient evidence for the revenue it claimed to have generated. The FFS Controller-General could only present manual receipts, which the committee rejected as inadequate. Lawmakers demanded more robust proof, including bank statements and evidence from the Accountant-General’s Office.
In light of the numerous discrepancies, the committee decided to step down the FFS budget defence, requesting a revised and accurate submission in the near future. Oshiomhole warned, “Work on your documents and submit a proper presentation to this committee. Otherwise, there will be zero allocation for the agency.”
This session highlighted the committee’s commitment to ensuring fiscal transparency and the proper use of public funds. The FFS now faces the challenge of rectifying its budgetary inconsistencies in order to secure the necessary funding for the upcoming fiscal year.
