The Federal Fire Service (FFS) has demanded the establishment of an arms-bearing unit, known as fire police, to protect its personnel while on duty.
This follows the attacks and harassments being faced by firefighters at fire scenes all over the country.
The Controller General of FFS, Dr Liman Ibrahim Alhaji, disclosed this while addressing a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja after some recently promoted staff of the service were decorated.
He said: “The Service is proposing to have an arms-bearing unit (Fire Police) who will be saddled with the responsibility of protecting our personnel at fire scenes and investigation grounds from hoodlums and miscreants with ulterior motives.
The Controller General of FFS, while lamenting that the current Fire Service Act (1963) was moribund as a lot had changed over the years, he said the Act is presently undergoing amendment at the National Assembly.
He said one of the issues being considered was the creation of ‘Fire Police’.
“The issue of Fire Police has to come in. At times, they [hoodlums] say we came late and we don’t have water but they are only angry that they did not have the opportunity to loot,” Alhaji said adding that it was risky to go to a fire scene now without security cover.
The agency is also demanding an upward review of the hazard allowance of its personnel.
“With the nature of hazards faced by our personnel, which in most cases have long term effects, the issue of upward review of hazard allowance needs a serious review to enable them to cater to health challenges that may arise from such exposures.
“We are holding discussions with relevant agencies to address this,” he added.
Earlier, the Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Shuaib Bagore, tasked the newly promoted officers to improve on their service delivery, adding that response time to emergencies across the country must improve.
Dr Begore said: “To whom much is given, much is expected. Therefore, this service must step up it functions. The response time must be short.
“The future of your service is in your hands, you will have to encourage those who fund you through your service. Therefore step it up.”
A total of 157 staff were promoted in the 2020/2021 promotion exercise which was carried out recently.
Among the promoted personnel are four Deputy Controller Generals (DCGs), 14 Assistant Controller Generals (ACGs), nine Controllers (CFs), 11 Deputy Controllers (DCFs), and 26 Assistant Controllers (ACFs).
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