KEY POINTS

• Senate orders full probe into Safe Schools Initiative funds.
• Lawmakers demand evidence of implementation under Safe Schools Initiative.
• Committee seeks further accountability for persistent failures of the Safe Schools Initiative.

The Senate has launched a sweeping investigation into Nigeria’s Safe Schools Initiative, reopening scrutiny of a programme created in 2014 to shield students after the Chibok abductions.

Lawmakers say rising attacks on schools and persistent mass kidnappings underscore deep concerns about where the money went and why the system is still failing.

The chamber appointed an 18-member ad hoc committee led by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to examine funding flows, project execution, and the overall state of security in educational institutions.

Senate widens Safe Schools Initiative probe

Furthermore, the inquiry will draw appearances from the finance minister, education minister, defence minister, NSCDC leadership, governors, civil society groups, and private school representatives. Each participant should submit detailed records, testimonies, and supporting documents showing how they executed the initiative and its impact.

Kalu said the review will follow strict constitutional guidelines. He vowed transparency, stressing that the committee seeks accountability, not political vendettas. He noted that every fund allocated to school safety since inception must be traced.

Lawmakers will scrutinize financial audits, implementation failures, early-warning systems, infrastructure upgrades, emergency response capacity and partnership performance across states and donor agencies. The initiative began with $10 million from Nigerian business leaders and another $10 million pledged by the government, later expanding to more than $30 million by 2021. A new national plan earmarked more than N144 billion for 2023–2026.

Despite these investments, attacks have continued. Kidnappers have abducted more than 1,680 students and targeted over 180 educational facilities since 2014. Lawmakers argue that many components of the programme have stalled or remain partially implemented.

Outrage intensified after the recent abduction of 25 female students in Kebbi State. Senators described the incident as a warning sign that the system is broken. Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan demanded a full audit of funds and actions taken.

The Senate has also given the committee four weeks to produce a report with recommendations to rebuild the Safe Schools Initiative and strengthen protections for students nationwide.