As part of the drive to enhance public service delivery, the Honourable Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Comrade Dalhatu Ezekiel Musa, paid a courtesy visit to the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Engr. Jaji Olola Abdulganiyu, in Abuja on Thursday.
The Explainer gathered that during the visit, the Commissioner highlighted the pivotal role the two institutions have in addressing administrative injustices and various citizens’ grievances and expressed the need for closer cooperation between government agencies to achieve better results.
According to him, the Public Complaints Commission, established in 1975, has a long-standing history of addressing grievances lodged by Nigerians on a wide range of issues, including issues related to administrative injustice, abuse of government powers, and others.
Dalhatu cited complaints the Commission received from residents of Ketu and Karshi, where people reported to have faced difficulties in reaching the Fire Service for assistance in emergencies. He pointed out that these issues were linked to communication challenges and the need for improved public awareness of the services provided by Fire Service.
To overcome some of these challenges, the Commissioner proposed a collaborative effort between the Public Complaints Commission and the Federal Fire Service to enhance public sensitization and outreach. This collaborative approach according to him will utilize the Commission’s extensive network to take vital information to the grassroots and benefit citizens who may lack access to television or radio.
Furthermore, the Commissioner raised concerns about inadequate representation of indigenous people of the FCT in recruitment into the service. He said although there had been improvement in terms of inclusion of indigenes in recent time, a lot still has to be done by the Service to ensure more representation. He commended the Federal Fire Service under the leadership of Abdulganiyu for their efforts in ensuring the protection of lives and services through their responses to fire incidents across the country.
In his response, the Controller General began by acknowledging the significant role played by the Public Complaints Commission in safeguarding the rights of Nigerians. He explained that the Commission serves as a lifeline for those facing administrative injustices, whether in government agencies, ministries, or the private sector.
The Controller General went further to outline the responsibilities and challenges faced by the Federal Fire Service. He explained that firefighting duties fall under the concurrent list, with the federal service handling much of the responsibilities. He said that some areas across the country had experienced inadequate emergency response, as the states’ responsibilities were not adequately met. This inadequacy led the federal government to step in to address the issue in 2015 by committing more resources to the federal fire service.
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He expressed his gratitude to former President Muhammadu Buhari for approving significant resources during his tenure, including the acquisition of 166 firefighting vehicles. The present Minister of Interior’s support according to him has also been instrumental in procuring an additional 21 firefighting vehicles, which were awaiting distribution to various states.
Abdulganiyu acknowledged that while these efforts were commendable, more needed to be done. He listed the challenges faced by the Fire Service which include attacks on staff and damages to firefighting equipment, which cost over 100 million Naira for a unit.
These security concerns which result in loss of lives of the staff and damage to equipment, sometimes led to the Fire Service avoiding certain high-risk areas. He further explained that the Fire Service had an Investigation and Enforcement department dedicated to educating people and raising awareness about fire safety. The department conducts sensitization campaigns across states, providing valuable information to the public.
However, the Controller General recognized that these efforts were not enough and that more extensive collaboration was needed to reach people without access to television or radio. He therefore welcomed the opportunity to work together with the Commission to reach out to Nigerians.
Abdulganiyu emphasized the importance of the establishment of desk officers between the Public Complaints Commission and the Fire Service. This would facilitate the prompt handling of complaints and provide an opportunity to address any shortcomings in the Fire Service’s operations. He reiterated the Fire Service’s commitment to protecting lives and properties, adding that they existed for the safety of the people.
However, the Controller General also stressed the importance of citizens understanding the role of the Fire Service and actively participating in fire prevention by observing and putting in place safety measures. He praised the Commissioner for his remarkable efforts and commitment to public service and presented him with a commemorative plaque.
