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Tag: federal fire service

  • Coalition To Call for Immediate Removal of FFS Boss, Abdulganiyu Over Allegations of Financial Infraction, Abuse of Office

    Coalition To Call for Immediate Removal of FFS Boss, Abdulganiyu Over Allegations of Financial Infraction, Abuse of Office

    •  Says Abdulganiyu Unconscionably using companies linked to staff, cronies to fleece public resources
    • Abdulganiyu has rejected several FOI Request- Ogakwu
    • Hints on Commencing Mass Protests in Coming Week

    A coalition of over 180 civil society groups in Nigeria, Civil Society Groups for Good Governance, has revealed intentions to commence what it termed a massive public protest and rally against the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Jaji Olola Abdulganiyu, over alleged incidences of financial subterfuge and abuse of office.

    The coalition also seeking immediate removal of the CG, in a communique signed and made available to newsmen by its President, Comrade Ogakwu Dominic on Tuesday, accused Dr. Abdulganiyu of perpetrating a litany of financial infractions, including siphoning of public funds earmarked for procurement of equipments, vehicles, amongst others via contracts to staffs, cronies and family members and refusing to collect FOIs from concerned organisations, media seeking clarification on the subject matter.

    According to the communique, the group expressed utmost displeasure and consternation at the level of corruption and constant abuse of office existing in the agency and is calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take immediate and constructive action to investigate and serve the necessary disciplinary action.

    It read: “We are greatly concerned at the level of financial recklessness, subterfuge and abysmal abuse of office in the Federal Fire Service. The level of corruption existing in the agency is one that has in recent time, sent shivers down our spine. The leadership under Dr. Abdulganiyu has failed the test of transparency and accountability especially in its continuous diversion and retirement of public funds through companies linked to staff, cronies and family members. This sharp practices with evidences, has led and still leading to a decline in the agency’s ability to respond effectively to fire emergencies thereby compromising its mandate of providing safety and security for all Nigerians.

    “The Federal Fire Service in years before now, has been mired in numerous corruption scandal, yet fresh allegations and infractions has continued to infringe its effectiveness and capacity to carryout duties. As concerned citizens and watchdog of the society, we cannot sit down and watch leaders that have been appointed to serve, neglect the oat they took before assumption, neither can we allow the malfeasance to continue.

    “We have resolved to begin a clarion call for Dr. Abdulganiyu’s immediate sack/removal from office, also in the coming weeks if nothing is done by then, we shall carryout a world press conference and public mass protest to further buttress our point and effect the desired changes we seek. The unconscionable use of companies linked to staffs and associates to siphon public funds is in violation of the Public Procurement Act, 2011 & The Code of Conduct Bureau & Tribunal Act. May we also reiterate that this isn’t just any form of unsubstantiated allegation, we have detailed evidences and we are ready to tender all of it in the public domain if need be.” It added.

     

  • Abdulganiyu Driving change at FFS,despite daunting challenges

    Abdulganiyu Driving change at FFS,despite daunting challenges

    From the plethora of achievements of his predecessors and a strong will to consolidate on the various development programmes on ground; to enhance advocacy on fire-fighting equipment for building across the country; implementation of the fire policy and safety measures; boost high morale of staff and espirit-de-corps, the story cannot be the same at the Federal Fire Service (FFS) under its present boss, Engr Abdulganiyu Jaji.

    Other areas, also impacted by the FFSs’ thriving management drive include the seamless public-private-partnership (PPP) with contractors on best practices, robust inter-agency collaboration with sister agencies for improved security, thereby creating a viable and virile institution that is sustainable, accountable and high morale of men and officers.

    This is judging from the fact that the present management of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), under the leadership of Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji, has done so much in its short stay in office by consolidating on the premium achievements for the overall betterment of the organization; transforming, rebranding and repositioning the Service to meet with best global standards, as well as maintaining high performance measurement, efficiency, accountability, transparency and good governance structure in all its operations nationwide.

    In a press release issued in Lagos by the National Coordinator of Workers Rights Protection (WORP) Network, Comr. Adio Wahab Salami and Secretary, Comr. Benjamin Olusi respectively, the duo said the present management has improved service performance measurement, enhanced staff welfare, increased espirit-de-corps, maintained prompt payment of emoluments, allowances and salaries, and morale of staff, including carrying out strategic direction for the FFS like never before seen. These achievements, they note, have drawn applause from far and near.

    The statement emphasized that the present management has upgraded the Fire Academy and all institutions of the Fire Service to boost the capacity and manpower development of the ranks and files. According to them, the management has intermittently approved seminars and courses for officers outside the shores of the country. However, it also gave kudos to the purchase of fire equipment and trucks recently to mitigate the issue of disaster and fire management within the country, though with the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Service is very optimistic that the issue of shortages of equipment and fire-fighting trucks will be a thing of the past.

    Consequently, WORP endorses and encourages the partnership and collaboration with sister agencies such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and others; the private sector initiatives and the citizenry which have paid off as Nigerians have been sensitized on the issues of disaster management and fire policies of buildings and what to do when fire occurs. This, WORP acknowledges, is clearly a win-win situation for all stakeholders, due to citizens’ engagement and the dynamism of the present leadership and sound management practice in carrying everyone along, which, they also observed, is indeed novel and has really endeared Nigerians to the FFS, due to the transparent ethical mechanism put in place and entrenched by the leadership of Abdulganiyu.

    Accordingly, it has been observed that the present management under Jaji had turned around the fortunes and repositioned the state of infrastructure development, maintenance of equipment and also put due process mechanism in place to check the arbitrary abuse of the standards. It has also maintained checks and balances in every aspect of its operations for optimum productivity and efficiency at the workplace, which has made the paramilitary organization adjudged as the ‘Best Place to Work’ in terms of enhanced human capacity, conducive environment, friendly staff with high morale and change management like never seen before.

    WORP said it is proud to acknowledge that the management had done creditably well and Nigerians are impressed about the milestones and giant strides in shifting the goal post and paradigm shift to a new way of doing things for the overall betterment of the Service, including the avowed stance on transparency, corruption and, above all, the present Comptroller-General’s blueprint on the “Federal Fire Service of Our Dreams,” as encapsulated in his vision and mission statement since assuming the mantle of leadership in April 2022.

    Nevertheless, Workers Rights Protection (WORP) Network says also worthy of mention is the concept of inaugurating fire stations within markets across the country, while the Investigation, Inspectorate and Enforcement (IIE) Division is presently inspecting most of these markets to ensure fire safety compliance in public buildings across the country so as to carry out the PPP.

    However, as observed by WORP, the present management is also urging market leaders to enlighten business owners through signs, announcements and advertorials the importance of switching off electric appliances before close of business as well as has advised traders to always be at alert always.

    WORP has reiterated that it is encouraged by Jaji’s leadership style, open door policy, discipline and most importantly his remarkable fight against indiscipline amongst staff and his patriotic disposition against fire incidents, assessment and general disaster management. That, in spite of the paucity of funds allocated to the Service, WORP is soliciting and canvassing for improved budgetary allocation as it has seen that the present management is doing all it can to reposition the Service to meet with international standards.

    Therefore, WORP has affirmed its confidence on the leadership style and management on the day-to-day decisions in repositioning and rebranding the Federal Fire Service (FFS) for better service delivery and urges all relevant stakeholders to support the on-going proactive drive at FFS and the anti-corruption stance of Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji.

  • Fire Service CG Abdulganiyu Jaji under Fire as Amalgamated CSOs Call for His Immediate Sack

    Fire Service CG Abdulganiyu Jaji under Fire as Amalgamated CSOs Call for His Immediate Sack

    The Amalgamated CSOs of Nigeria (ACN), a pressure group of civil society practitioners, pro-democracy development and anti-corruption agitators, has demanded the immediate sack of the Comptroller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Abdulganiyu Jaji, for what it referred to as “gross incompetence, maladministration and non-adherence to the laid down rules of engagement, including core values of integrity, transparency and pro-active development of the workforce of the organization.” The group of CSOs noted that since Abdulganiyu took over the affairs of the FFS, the organization has witnessed gradual but steady decline in all ramifications.

    In a press release issued in Lagos December 18, 2023, and jointly signed by the National President, Comrade Gbenga Ashiru Abiodun and General Secretary, Comrade Yakubu Abdullahi, the group recalled that on October 23, 2023, the Interior Minister, Dr Olubunmi Ojo, rightly referred to the CG of the Federal Fire Service (FFS): “You Are a Sleeping Giant.” This pronouncement made by the Minister, the group insisted, because “nothing positive has been heard of the organization since Abdulganiyu came on board.” They went on to also recall that the Interior Minister called for the “transformative rebranding and expansion of FFS responsibilities, which have been stifled since the present leadership took over.”

    The Amalgamated CSOs said they are solidly behind the Interior Minister who reiterated that “The proposed rebranding of the Fire Service and Rescue Service seeks a shift in focus towards comprehensive risk assessment and a commitment to safeguarding lives and property.”

    They also recalled that the Minister asserted, “The Federal Fire Service, very soon, when the Bill on Fire Rescue is assented to (by the National Assembly), we will play a major role on national development,” adding that, “for any country to attain its potentials, the role of the Fire Service cannot be taken for granted. I say this to the Federal Fire Service, ‘You are a Sleeping Giant.’ The time to wake up to your responsibilities is NOW!”

    The Amalgamated CSOs further maintained that “the morale of staff of the FFS is the lowest in the history of the Service, as there are no enough motivation for staff, late payment of allowances, salaries and other emoluments, have increased the level of indiscipline among the rank and file, including the non-availability of enough fire trucks and equipment as the leadership is not focused on its challenges, but on self-aggrandizing issues and inordinate ambition of the leadership.”

    The release also exposes the procurement process, “as sham and contract awards to cronies and friends of the CG who have continually fleeced the organization to the detriment of the work force, as they do not follow any laid down extant rules of contract awards and procurement processes.”

    The group noted that they draw this conclusion because, “On several occasions, documents at our disposal show that awards of contracts to self, cronyism and relations, have become the order of the day. The management of the Fire Service is not focused on the delivery of its mandate, but are daily witch-hunting the ranks and files that are not from the ethnic stock of the CG, and causing bad blood amongst its work force, and is ostensibly responsible for the low productivity from staff as well as their lateness to work.”

    It has also been diligently observed that “the operatives of the organization are cult-like, as the public and societies are not allowed to the Headquarters and several letters written, are not replied, including the Freedom of Information (FOI) letters sent by our different CSOs, under our umbrella, are also not received or answered for over a year now. The awards of contracts and procurement processes have been bastardized as the operatives of the Service are on a roller-coaster to Eldorado.”

    The Amalgamated CSOs of Nigeria (ACN) will be leading a one million man march to protest this December to the Headquarters of the Federal Fire Service, for a week to ask for the removal and ouster of the current Comptroller General of the Federal Fire Service, CG Abdulganiyu Jaji for his failure to deliver on the core mandate of the FFS, as well as failure on his part, to sustained the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The group added that, it is calling on other CSOs across the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), irrespective of whether their members of ACN or not, to join in “this epoch-making protest to remove the management of the FFS, as they have all failed to rescue the organization from its various problems, as the organization continues to be on its knees. In contrast, the leadership is hell-bent on continuously engaging in acts inimical to the progress of the Service.”

    “It is owing to all these that we hereby, pass a “VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE” on the Abdulganiyu Jaji-led leadership of the Federal Fire Service and call for his immediate removal and outright sack, due to his lackadaisical attitude towards transformative initiatives and acts unbecoming of a leader of his status, heading such a sensitive organization,” the CSOs insisted that this is just the beginning more are on their way and we will fight till the necessary change is achieved and sustained.

  • Kano State Fire Service rescue 13 from open wells

    Kano State Fire Service rescue 13 from open wells

    Kano State Fire Service, says it rescued 13 victims who fell inside wells and open water bodies from January to March.

    Alhaji Jamilu Bashir, the Fire Prevention Officer of the Service, told our correspondent in Kano on Wednesday that the incidents occurred across the state.

    He said those affected were mostly children and teenagers.

    To curtail the incidences, Bashir said that the Service has been conducting door-to-door sensitisation campaign in 27 local government areas where it has offices.

    “We educate them on the risk of allowing their ward to go for swimming, playing or fishing around the river.

    “Due to the recent reports received on the number of children and teenagers falling inside well and open water, the state fire service has posted staff permanently to all the Emirates.

    “This will ensure people take preventive measures by repairing their wells and using blocks to raise them up, to prevent their wards from falling inside,” he said.

    Bashir said that the Service would collaborate with Kano State Emergency Management Agency, traditional rulers, Imams and information officers to take the sensitisation campaign to the grassroots.

    He advised the general public to be vigilant with regards to movement of children to reduce the risk of their falling into wells or open waters.

  • Ondo govt partners federal fire service to end outbreaks

    Ondo govt partners federal fire service to end outbreaks

    The State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Saka Ogunleye, made this known on Thursday when a delegation of the federal fire service visited him in his office.

    Ogunleye commended the federal agency for being proactive in responding to the letter sent by Gov. Rotimi  Akeredolu for assistance.

    The commissioner said the Ondo state government had to make the clarion call as the state was finding it difficult to cope with rising fire-related incidences across the state.

    According to him, when the governor sent the appeal to the federal fire service in Abuja, it was borne out of his genuine desire to get federal assistance on the rising cases of inferno.

    “We are happy that you are here, as your coming has changed the picture altogether.

    “Collaboration and cooperation between the federal, state and local governments are inevitable for the government at all levels to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

    “By working together, we shall render assistance to all,” he said.

    The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Taiwo Otun, expressed hope that the new fire truck would complement the old ones the ministry possessed.

    Otun said the ministry always enjoyed good rapport with the fire agency before now and excited to see the support coming to fruition, as the fire truck request would be delivered to the state soon as promise by the federal fire service.

    Assistant Controller-General of the federal fire services, Dr Callistus Agwu, who led the team, said the team was in the state to visit the various stations to see conditions of available fire trucks and carry out repair works where necessary to make them functional.

    Agwu added that they were to also update the government about the assistance requested for a new fire truck.

    “The federal government has purchased a new fire truck for the state.

    “It is the latest version and has 46 ancillary equipment to enable it to perform the task of battling fire outbreaks in the state.