By Haruna Salami
The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Safe Schools Initiative on Friday commenced an investigation into the administration of funds allocated to the programme, including foreign grants, donor contributions and budgetary appropriations, as it pledged to ensure accountability while safeguarding national security.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, said the probe was aimed at determining how funds earmarked for protecting schools across the country had been utilised, stressing that the exercise was not intended to witch-hunt any individual but to strengthen transparency in government.
Welcoming the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and members of his delegation to the National Assembly, Kalu commended them for honouring the committee’s invitation and reaffirmed the Senate’s constitutional responsibility to oversee public expenditure.
He explained that because the issues under review touched directly on national security, parts of the deliberations would be conducted behind closed doors to avoid exposing sensitive information that could aid criminal elements.
According to him, attacks on schools by bandits and terrorists remain a major national security challenge, making it imperative for lawmakers to exercise caution in discussing operational matters publicly.
Kalu maintained that government, as a continuous institution, must account for every public fund entrusted to it regardless of changes in leadership.
Responding, the Minister of Education agreed that discussions relating to school security required discretion, noting that terrorists and other criminal groups deliberately target vulnerable schools and communities.
Alausa reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to safeguarding educational institutions, describing the protection of students, teachers and school facilities as a top priority of the administration.
He said education occupies a central place in the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that building a knowledge-based economy depends on creating a secure learning environment across the country.
The minister explained that although the Ministry of Education oversees education policy, the financing component of the Safe Schools Initiative had previously been domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Finance, with most of the disbursements under investigation taking place several years before he assumed office.
He disclosed that since becoming minister, only targeted interventions to security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, had been made under the initiative through the Ministry of Finance.
Alausa, however, announced that the Federal Government had now transferred the Safe Schools Initiative to the Ministry of Education and established a dedicated Safe Schools Department to coordinate policy, implementation and monitoring nationwide.
He assured lawmakers that despite inheriting the programme, the current administration remained committed to full accountability for all public resources allocated to the initiative.
Committee members backed the decision to move sensitive discussions into executive session, insisting that while Parliament must account for public funds, national security information should remain confidential.
Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Sahabi Yau, said the Senate was determined to ensure accountability without compromising information capable of undermining efforts to keep schools safe.
Other members also stressed that the investigation was intended to restore the original objectives of the Safe Schools Initiative and strengthen public confidence in the programme.
Before adjourning to a closed session, Kalu praised the Minister of Education for consistently responding to invitations from the National Assembly and reminded all public officials of their constitutional obligation to remain accountable to Parliament.
He noted that oversight remains one of the Senate’s core constitutional responsibilities and vowed that lawmakers would continue to demand accountability without fear or favour.
Speaking with journalists after the public session, Alausa disclosed that the Minister of Finance could not attend because of another official engagement but confirmed that the Safe Schools Initiative had now been formally transferred to the Ministry of Education.
He said the ministry was working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to develop a comprehensive national framework for school safety.
According to him, the initiative extends beyond deploying security personnel to include perimeter fencing, solar-powered lighting, water and sanitation facilities, technology-driven surveillance, recruitment of school security personnel and effective monitoring systems.
Also commenting on the development, the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, said protecting schools was a shared responsibility of all levels of government and relevant ministries, stressing that the priority should be ensuring adequate funding and timely release of resources rather than which ministry controls the budget.
He explained that under existing government financial regulations, intervention funds are often managed by the Ministry of Finance in its capacity as the nation’s accountant, but noted that administrative issues regarding the transfer of the programme would be resolved within government.
Oyedele urged Nigerians and the media to support ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity, saying national unity and sustained investment in school safety were critical to protecting children and preventing attacks on educational institutions.
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