Mr Omoniyi Olugbenga, Director , Ekiti State Fire Service has requested for the review of Ekiti firemen hazard allowances to help boost morale of firefighters in the state.
The state director made the plea during a courtesy and inspection visit by Federal Fire Service (FFS) , Controller General (CG), Mr Ibrahim Liman to the state fire service headquarters in Ado Ekiti on Thursday.
Olugbenga said that the upward review of the state fire and rescue men hazard allowances was of necessity to help motivate them.
“It is important to adopt the paramilitary salary structure and to increase the monthly operational cost of the department.
“Including the procurement of two or more utility vehicles for operational, administrative and revenue generation purposes,” he said.
According to him, the CG’s visit will boost the morale of firemen and confidence of the service in Ekiti.
He stated that the state presently has three working firefighting trucks while the rest are undergoing repairs.
“We have 62 staff strength and 59 new recruits’ currently undergoing training at the state service headquarters.
The state director urged the CG to intervene on behalf of the state fire service to enable better service delivery.
The FFS boss applauded the state government for the recruitment, as he urged the new firefighters to embrace the job with dignity and determination to save lives and property.
He said that the job involved lots of challenges including threat to life, but with appropriate training and adherence to safety precautions, such threats could be averted.
Liman advised the state and federal fire service men in Ekiti to properly utilise the vehicles and firefighting trucks in their possession.
He assured the state firemen that he would relay their concerns to the appropriate authorities.