National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By: Ekpenyong Emmanuel
Abuja – The National Assembly has rejected the 2025 budget proposal of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) due to irregularities and discrepancies discovered in the document.
The decision was made after a thorough review of the budget proposal by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Interior.
The committee, co-chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Representative Abdullahi Aliyu Ahmed, found several inconsistencies in the budget, including inflated costs for firefighting equipment and unclear contract commitments.
According to sources, the committee was particularly concerned about the procurement of 10 firefighting trucks at a cost of ₦2.5 billion, when similar trucks were purchased at a lower cost of ₦1.5 billion in the previous year.
The FFS Controller General, Jaji Abdulganiyu Idris, was summoned to appear before the committee to explain the discrepancies, but his explanations were deemed unsatisfactory.
Senator Oshiomhole, speaking on behalf of the committee, expressed disappointment at the lack of transparency and accountability in the FFS budget.
“We cannot approve a budget that is fraught with irregularities and discrepancies,” he said. ”
“The FFS must go back and review its budget to ensure that it is transparent, accountable, and in line with the country’s fiscal policies.”
The rejection of the FFS budget proposal is a significant setback for the agency, which has been struggling to cope with the increasing demand for its services.
The National Assembly’s decision is expected to delay the implementation of the agency’s 2025 budget, which could have serious implications for the country’s fire safety and emergency response capabilities.
