N/Assembly Step Down Federal Fire Service Budget Over Alleged Fire Trucks Price Discrepancies, Others
By Juliet Vincent
The joint National Assembly Committee on Interior has stepped down the 2025 budget presentation of the Federal Fire Service on Friday.
This followed the discovery of alleged discrepancies in the prices of 10 fire trucks which the Committee said were procured at N1.5 billion in one instance and at N2.5 billion in another, despite being procured from the same company and are of the same specifications.
The joint Committee co-chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chair of the Senate Committee on Interior, and his House of Representatives counterpart, Abdullahi Aliyu Ahmed, lamented the inconsistencies in the pricing of firefighting trucks presented in the documents by the Federal Fire Service.
Speaking, Senator Adams 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.
“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”.
The Controller, Federal Fire Service, General, Jaji Abdulganiyu Idris however explained to the Committee that, the discrepancies in the Fire Trucks prices was because of the difference in sizes.
But the Committee insisted that, they are not satisfied with his explanation on the matter and needs to scrutinize further.
Equally, the Committee also rejected a proposed payment of outstanding payment of N603 billion for existing contracts in the agency’s 2025 budget and lack of clarity, missing specifications and unclear contract commitments.
Senator Oshiomhole further added that,“We need to appreciate the difference between contract commitments and proposals. Without proper documentation, this committee cannot approve your budget”.
