The Senate on Friday commenced a high-level interface with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, over the management of billions of naira released under the Safe Schools Initiative, as lawmakers vowed to trace every appropriation and donor contribution committed to protecting schools across Nigeria.
The session, convened by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Safe Schools Initiative and Safe Schools Financing and chaired by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, forms part of an ongoing legislative effort to evaluate the funding, implementation and accountability of the programme established after the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction to improve security in schools nationwide.
Addressing the minister and senior government officials at the National Assembly, Kalu said the committee’s assignment was to establish whether resources earmarked for school safety were prudently managed and achieved their intended objectives.
He stressed that the exercise was not designed to indict any individual or institution but to strengthen transparency and public confidence in the management of public funds.
“This committee is not on a witch-hunt. Our responsibility is to ensure that every kobo appropriated by the Federal Government and every donor fund released for the Safe Schools Initiative is fully accounted for. The Nigerian people deserve nothing less,” Kalu declared.
The committee chairman commended Alausa for responding promptly to the Senate’s invitation, describing his appearance as evidence of respect for legislative oversight and democratic accountability.
He added that because the subject involved national security, deliberations touching on operational matters would be held in executive session to avoid exposing sensitive information that could compromise efforts to protect schools.
Responding, Alausa said he welcomed the Senate’s oversight role, noting that accountability remains a cornerstone of good governance.
The minister explained that the bulk of the financial transactions under review occurred between five and seven years ago, before he assumed office, but maintained that government institutions must account for their stewardship regardless of changes in leadership.
“Government is a continuum. Even though I was not the Minister of Education when many of these funds were disbursed, I have a duty to account for the institution I now lead,” he said.
Tracing the history of the programme, Alausa recalled that the Safe Schools Initiative was launched following the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, which drew global attention and attracted substantial international financial support to strengthen security in Nigerian schools.
He explained that both donor grants and subsequent Federal Government appropriations were originally domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Finance, which managed the disbursement of the funds.
In a significant policy announcement, the minister disclosed that the Safe Schools Initiative has now been transferred to the Federal Ministry of Education following reforms initiated shortly after he assumed office.
According to him, placing the programme under the Education Ministry would improve coordination, monitoring and policy implementation, given the ministry’s constitutional responsibility for managing the nation’s education sector.
“It became difficult to justify why a programme designed to protect schools was being coordinated outside the Ministry of Education. We initiated the transfer, and that process has now been completed,” he said.
Alausa also revealed that the ministry has established a dedicated Safe Schools Department to coordinate implementation, monitor projects and strengthen collaboration with state governments and security agencies.
He said the Tinubu administration considers the protection of schools a national priority and is working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and other relevant agencies to build a comprehensive national school safety architecture.
The minister explained that the initiative extends beyond deploying security personnel, encompassing perimeter fencing, solar-powered lighting, surveillance systems, water and sanitation facilities, early warning mechanisms and other infrastructure designed to make schools safer.
“School safety is not just about security personnel. It requires infrastructure, technology, coordination and continuous monitoring to ensure our children can learn without fear,” he stated.
Members of the committee endorsed the interface, insisting that legislative oversight was essential to promoting accountability and ensuring that funds allocated for school safety translate into measurable improvements across the country.
Before the committee proceeded into a closed-door session, Kalu reminded public office holders that responding to invitations from the National Assembly was a constitutional obligation and a vital component of democratic governance.
The committee is expected to continue its engagements with key stakeholders, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, before submitting its report and recommendations to the Senate.