The Chairman of Senate Committee on Interior, Kashim Shettima on Monday solicited for increased funding for Federal Fire Service (FFS), saying it has enormous task of fighting fire incidents in the country. He made the call during a familiarisation visit by members of the Committee to the headquarters of FFS in Abuja.
The lawmaker noted that there was improved operations of FFS in recent times given the deteriorated nature of the services in the past.
He, however, said there was a need for proper guidance given the workings of other Fire service in other countries. He said in comparison,the budget of the fire service of NewYork city was too large compared to the budget of FSS in Nigeria.
“We would like to call on the Federal Authorities to really pump in resources toward revitalising and repositing the FFS.
“We have to commend the management of FFS for doing an outstanding job in spite of the constraints, their working environment, paucity of funds and other challenges.
“I believe they deserve commendation and not condemnation,” Shettima said.
He said the senate would intervene to ensure the repeal and re-enactment of the law establishing the FSS.
“My colleagues and I would work assiduously to see that the 1963 law, setting up this outfit is reviewed.
“It has become obsolete, we need to review it in the light of current happenings in our environment.
“We will also explore options in getting back remittances due to FFS from NAICOM and other agencies,” Shettima said.
He urged Nigerians and other agencies of government to ensure safety of life’s and properties and prayed that God grant victims of explosion in Abule -Ado in Lagos State eternal rest.
Earlier, the Commandant-General of FSS, Mr Lima Ibrahim said there was need for the Ministry of Justice to intervene to determine the statues of FSS.
This, he said would help in the review of FSS existing act, adding that the act was enacted 63 years ago.
He called on Senate to prevail on NAICOM to remit the equipment maintenance fund to fighting institutions as stipulated in NAICOM Act 2003.
He said there was need for immediate recruitment of more firefighters to address the obviously low firefighters to the nation”s population ratio.
Similarly, the committee members also paid a familiarisation visit to the Board and Management of Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration Correctional Center Service.
Shettima also assured members of the board that the senate would look into the issues militating the operation of the board on its mandate of managing the appointment and promotions of officers of the four agencies.
He said the 9th senate was determine to restore the hope of Nigerians on security and other areas ,saying that its ad-hoc committee was on the verge of presenting recommendations for the security arhictecture of Nigeria.
Members of the committee present at the meetings included, Vice Chairman of the Committee, Sen.George Sekibo, Sen. Abba Moro, Sen. Betty Apiaffi, among others.
