The House Of Representatives has rejected a bill proposing to arm personnel of the Federal Fire Service.
The bill was meant to grant firefighters the power to bear arms to protect them from mob attacks while responding to emergencies.
Lawmakers ditched the bill by rejecting a motion moved by Representative Thomas Ereyitomi.
They based their position on the fact the Federal Fire Service is a civil outfit and not a security agency.
Rather than arm the service, the lawmakers advocated for it to be better equipped and positioned for improved service delivery,
The bill was aimed at creating an arms-bearing unit that will be referred to as “Fire Police”.
“Efforts To Address The Challenges”
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and Chairman of Council had earlier disclosed that the decision is “part of efforts to address the challenges often faced by firefighters during operations, through mob action and vandalism of firefighting assets in the country” during the opening of the National Council on Fire.
Aregbesola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, said: “the Ministry would initiate the process of repealing the 1963 obsolete Fire Service Act and enactment of a new contemporary, vibrant, and enforceable law, through the instrument of an Executive Bill to be forwarded to the National Assembly for deliberation and eventual passage into law”.
