The Nationwide Meeting Joint Committee on Inside on Friday halted the Federal Fireplace Service (FFS) price range defence session on account of discrepancies within the company’s 2025 price range proposal and 2024 price range efficiency.
The Committee recognized inconsistencies within the pricing of firefighting vehicles. For example, 10 vehicles had been reportedly procured at ₦1.5 billion in a single case and ₦2.5 billion in one other, regardless of being from the identical firm and having equivalent specs.
This difficulty was raised when FFS Controller Common Jaji Abdulganiyu Idris appeared earlier than the committee, co-chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Home of Representatives counterpart Abdullahi Aliyu Ahmed, to defend the company’s 2024 price range efficiency and 2025 proposal.
Idris attributed the variations to variations in tanker sizes, however lawmakers criticized the absence of detailed explanations within the price range paperwork.
Oshiomhole described the state of affairs as “over-padding or over-invoicing,” stating, “What you wrote contradicts what you might be saying, and we maintain you to your written statements.”
The Committee additionally highlighted points with ongoing initiatives, noting lacking specs and unclear contract commitments.
The FFS 2025 price range proposal included a projected excellent cost of ₦603 billion for current contracts. Lawmakers questioned the shortage of readability on these commitments, with Oshiomhole stressing the significance of correct documentation.
“We have to admire the distinction between contract commitments and proposals. With out correct documentation, this committee can not approve your price range,” Oshiomhole mentioned.
He emphasised fiscal accountability, stating, “Each ₦10 misplaced by MDAs, when multiplied throughout all companies, turns into an alarming determine. It’s our obligation to make sure that the little drawn is correctly distributed so that each Nigerian will get a sip, particularly the poor.”
The Committee additionally queried the FFS over the shortage of correct info and proof for income generated. Idris offered guide receipts, which the committee rejected as inadequate, demanding financial institution statements and proof from the Accountant-Common’s workplace.
Because of the quite a few discrepancies, the committee stepped down the FFS price range defence, requesting a revised and correct submission.
Oshiomhole warned, “Work in your paperwork and submit a correct presentation to this committee. In any other case, there might be zero allocation for the company.”
He concluded that the session demonstrated the lawmakers’ dedication to fiscal transparency and the environment friendly use of public funds, urging the company to rectify its budgetary inconsistencies to safe funding for 2025.
