By Muhammad D. El-Sisi
The recent budget defense hearing at the National Assembly has laid bare the alarming state of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), revealing a crisis of incompetence under the current leadership of Controller General (CGF) Jaji Abdulganiyu and raising serious questions about the Minister of Interior’s oversight. The Joint Committee on Interior, co-chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Abdullahi9 Aliyu Ahmed, rightly halted the FFS’s 2025 budget proposal due to glaring discrepancies, effectively grounding an already struggling service.
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The evidence presented paints a picture of systemic mismanagement and a blatant disregard for fiscal accountability. The most glaring issue was the inexplicable disparity in the cost of firefighting trucks. Ten trucks, purchased from the same company with identical specifications, were inexplicably priced at both N1.5 billion and N2.5 billion. CGF Jaji’s flimsy explanation regarding variations in tanker sizes – a detail conveniently omitted from budget documents – only deepened the suspicion of “over-padding or over-invoicing,” as rightly pointed out by Senator Oshiomhole. This blatant inconsistency suggests either gross incompetence or, worse, a deliberate attempt to siphon public funds.
The committee’s findings extend far beyond just inflated truck prices. Ongoing projects with missing specifications and unclear contract commitments further demonstrate a chaotic approach to resource management. The staggering N603 billion projected as an outstanding payment for existing contracts, with no clarity, highlights a systemic failure to maintain proper documentation and financial oversight. This level of administrative decay is not just alarming; it’s a dereliction of duty that places the lives and property of Nigerian citizens at risk.
These financial irregularities are not isolated incidents; they are symptomatic of a broader crisis within the FFS. The operational capacity is clearly decayed, hampered by poor administration of resources and likely compounded by demotivated and poorly managed staff. The agency’s inability to provide a coherent budget proposal is a reflection of its organizational dysfunction from top to bottom.
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The Minister of Interior, responsible for supervising the FFS, cannot escape scrutiny in this fiasco. The fact that such gross mismanagement has been allowed to fester under their watch suggests a profound failure in oversight. It is baffling how these discrepancies were not identified and addressed internally before reaching the National Assembly. The lack of proactive engagement from the ministry is a clear indication of their lackadaisical approach to their supervisory role, compounding the FFS’s problems.
The FFS, an agency critical to national safety, is now effectively grounded. The committee’s decision to hold the budget allocation pending a revised and accurate submission is a necessary step. However, the situation demands more than just budget corrections. It calls for a complete overhaul of the FFS’s leadership and a thorough investigation into the financial irregularities. The Minister of Interior must also be held accountable for their dereliction of supervisory duty. The safety and security of Nigerians cannot be jeopardized by incompetence, mismanagement, and a lack of accountability. The Federal Government must act decisively to revive the FFS and restore its capacity to effectively protect the nation.
However, the situation is far more sinister than mere incompetence. The CGF, in collusion with the Minister of Interior, has engaged in a deliberate campaign to undermine the FFS from within. They have exploited the guise of “Transfer of Service” to flood the agency with individuals, operating through the backdoor and bypassing established procedures. This blatant act of cronyism is intended to consolidate power, marginalize existing personnel, and create a structure dominated by loyalists.
This calculated maneuver is a direct assault on the morale and efficacy of regular personnel who have served with dedication and commitment. It also constitutes a flagrant violation of the CDCFI Board Guidelines, which have clearly prohibited the transfer of service since 2015. The CGF and the Minister, well aware of this policy, deliberately chose to ignore it, demonstrating a shocking disregard for the established rules and regulations designed to safeguard the integrity of the FFS.
This backhanded employment of new staff is not just an act of nepotism; it represents a profound misplacement of priorities. Instead of focusing on improving operational capacity, providing adequate training, and procuring necessary equipment, the leadership of the FFS, with the backing of the Minister of Interior, has prioritized the consolidation of their own power, jeopardizing the very mission of the agency. This blatant disregard for due process and the demoralization of hardworking personnel only further erodes the FFS’s ability to protect lives and property.
The operational capacity of the FFS is decaying not merely because of mismanagement, but because of a deliberate undermining of the institutional framework. While the financial irregularities revealed in the budget defense hearing are outrageous, this backdoor employment scandal is a grave betrayal of the public trust. It shows a complete disregard for established procedures and a cynical manipulation of the FFS for personal and political gain.
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The Minister of Interior, far from providing oversight, has clearly enabled this abuse of power through gross negligence and, quite possibly, direct complicity. They have abdicated their responsibility to ensure a fair and functional agency, instead allowing the FFS to become a breeding ground for favoritism and corruption. This lack of supervision is a dereliction of duty that demands immediate and thorough investigation.
The FFS, already crippled by operational decay, poor administration, and questionable financial practices, is now facing an internal assault on its very structure and integrity. The committee’s move to hold the budget allocation is crucial, but a complete overhaul is essential. This must include not only addressing the financial irregularities, but also an independent investigation into the “Transfer of Service” scandal and holding both the CGF and the Minister of Interior fully accountable for their actions. The Nigerian public deserves a fire service that is efficient, fair, and focused on saving lives, not an agency plagued by political maneuvering and unchecked abuse of power. The government must act decisively to dismantle this culture of corruption and restore the FFS to its rightful purpose.
Muhammad D. El-Sisi is a public affairs commentator, written from Abuja.
