The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives has directed the Federal Fire Service to return N1.4 billion that was released to the agency as COVID-19 intervention funds within seven days. The committee’s chairman, Bamidele Salam, gave the directive after the Fire Service failed to appear before the committee three times to answer questions on the utilization of the funds. Salam has required the agency’s accounting officer to deposit the owed funds to the federal government within seven days and present proof to the committee.
The committee warned of potential sanctions as per constitutional and Public Service Rule provisions. The committee also mandated other agencies, such as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Accountant General of the Federation Office, the Ministry of Health, and the Women Affairs Ministry, that were queried over their utilization of COVID-19 intervention funds to attend the next session with appropriate documents to address the concerns.