• Disbursements predated my tenure, says minister
• Announces transfer of initiative to education ministry

The Senate has commenced an investigation into billions of naira released under Nigeria’s Safe Schools Initiative, declaring that every kobo appropriated by the Federal Government and donor funds meant to secure schools must be fully accounted for.

The probe, launched on Friday by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Safe Schools Initiative and Safe Schools Financing, is expected to examine disbursements made under the programme established after the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls to protect schools from terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, said the investigation was not intended to witch-hunt anyone but to ensure transparency, accountability and value for public resources committed to securing Nigeria’s schools.

He said the committee was determined to establish how the funds were utilised regardless of when they were released or who supervised the programme.

“Government is a continuum. Whether these funds were released before the present minister assumed office or not, government remains responsible for accounting for every kobo entrusted to it,” he said.

Kalu added that because the investigation touches on national security, deliberations on sensitive operational matters would be held behind closed doors.

Appearing before the committee, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, acknowledged the Senate’s constitutional oversight responsibility and disclosed that virtually all the financial transactions under investigation took place between five and seven years ago, long before he assumed office.

He explained that the only major disbursements made during his tenure were targeted interventions for the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies, with the funds administered through the Federal Ministry of Finance.

According to him, the Safe Schools Initiative was established after the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, while international donor funds and subsequent Federal Government appropriations were domiciled in the Ministry of Finance, which handled all disbursements.

Although he was not in office when the funds were released, he said his appearance before the committee reflects government’s commitment to accountability.

He disclosed that he appeared before the committee alongside the Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Education and Finance, as well as directors responsible for the Safe Schools programme in both ministries, adding that the Minister of Finance would appear before the committee at a later date.

Alausa also announced that the Safe Schools Initiative has been transferred from the Federal Ministry of Finance to the Federal Ministry of Education after he initiated the move shortly after assuming office.

He said it was difficult to justify keeping the programme’s financing outside the ministry responsible for education policy, implementation and monitoring, adding that a dedicated Safe Schools Department has now been established to coordinate policy implementation, monitoring and collaboration with state governments.

Reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to education, the minister said the administration was working 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 schools and includes perimeter fencing, solar-powered lighting, water and sanitation facilities, recruitment of school security personnel, surveillance technology, early warning systems and effective monitoring mechanisms.

Committee members backed the investigation, insisting that the Senate was carrying out its constitutional oversight responsibility rather than embarking on a witch-hunt.

Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Sahabi Yau, stressed the need to balance accountability with national security, while Senator Anthony Ani said government institutions must account for past actions to strengthen transparency and public confidence.

The committee is expected to continue its investigation after reviewing documents and testimonies presented during the closed-door session.