October 17, 2020 (232News)
FREETOWN – Civil Society, Non state actors, District Budget Oversight committee has pleaded to the Ministry of Finance for the budget of the National Fire Force to increase from Le 20 billion to Le 28 billion.
After the passionate plea the Ministry Of Finance approved the budget.
This happened when the Chief Fire Officer Nazir A.A Kamanda Bongay was presenting their 2021 budget to officials of the ministry of finance, Civil Society, Non State actors and District Budget Officer at the Ministry of Finance office conference room at George Street in Freetown.
Chief Fire Officer explained that fighting fire is not easy especially at this time of COVID-19
That his institution does not have enough fire engines to fight but that they have to procure five fire engines for 2021.
He said that each vehicle will cost Le 2billion bringing it to the total of Le 10 billion.
That they have to procured uniforms which is Le 850 million and that for rice they spend Le 1.6 billion.
He added that they have 376 staff including local travels, telephone, running of generator, support to internal audit and maintenance of fire engines.
That the construction of fire stations in Pujehun, Kailahun and Kabala before the end of the fourth quarter will be completed.
With the challenges of Fire Fighting Engines and protected gears, the Chief Fire Office said that the 2021 budget speaks to the procurement of firefighting engines and protected gears for the firefighting.
According to him, they are operating in Freetown, Bo, Makeni, Kenema, Kono, Moyamba and Kambia and that his institution wants to commission firefighting engines in Moyamba and Kambia districts.
That they want to build other fire stations in Bonthe, PortLoko and Tonkolili districts because they want to improve on the fire cover in the country which is their principle key deliverables for 2021.
The Chief Fire officer stated that if the ministry of Finance gives his institution the Le 28 billion, there is going to be better service delivery at the National Fire Force.
He advised Sierra Leoneans to change the electrification of their houses after ten to twenty years.
