The National Assembly Joint Committees on Interior have queried the Federal Fire Service (FFS) over various discrepancies in the agency’s budget proposal during a budget defense session co-chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, and his House of Representatives counterpart, Rep. Abdullahi Aliyu Ahmed.
Consequently, the Joint Committees postponed the agency’s budget defense following inconsistencies in the pricing of firefighting trucks and other items that were discovered when the FFS Controller-General, Jaji Abdulganiyu Idris, made his presentation.
The committees discovered that 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.
However, Idris explained that the differences were due to variations in tanker sizes, which the lawmakers criticized, pointing out the omission of such critical details in the budget documents.
Speaking, Senator Oshiomhole said, “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.”
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According to him, “We need to appreciate the difference between contract commitments and proposals. Without proper documentation, this committee cannot approve your budget.”
He 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.”
“Government should be less wasteful. Every N10 lost by MDAs, when multiplied across all agencies, becomes an alarming figure. As our president keeps reminding us, he is trying to draw a bucket of water from a dry well. It is our duty to ensure that the little drawn is properly distributed so that every Nigerian gets a sip, especially the poor,” he added.
The committee also discovered 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.
The committee raised concerns about the FFS’s budget proposal, particularly discrepancies in figures and the lack of proper documentation.
The committee also queried the agency for failing to provide proper information and evidence regarding the revenue it generated.
The FFS Controller-General, Jaji Abdulganiyu 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.”
He said the session underscored the lawmakers’ commitment to fiscal transparency and the effective utilization of public funds.
