The Senate has expanded the scope of its investigation into the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative (SSI), bringing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) under scrutiny.
The upper chamber also granted its Ad-hoc Committee on the Safe Schools Initiative an additional three weeks to conclude its assignment after lawmakers agreed that a broader investigation was necessary to establish how education and social intervention funds have been managed.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion moved by the committee’s chairman, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), under Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders, 2026 (as amended).
Presenting the motion during plenary, Kalu said preliminary findings by the committee showed significant links between the implementation and funding of the Safe Schools Initiative and several government agencies responsible for education financing, student welfare, humanitarian support and social intervention programmes.
According to him, limiting the investigation to the Safe Schools Initiative alone would not provide a comprehensive picture of the challenges affecting school security, educational infrastructure and interventions targeted at vulnerable learners.
“Our preliminary investigation revealed that the Safe Schools Initiative is closely linked with the activities of agencies responsible for education funding and student welfare.
Investigating the programme in isolation will not provide a complete assessment of school security and intervention programmes,” Kalu told lawmakers.
Under the expanded mandate, the committee will examine financial flows, operational challenges and accountability mechanisms relating to the Safe Schools Initiative and the affected agencies.
It is also expected to audit infrastructure and security-related projects funded by TETFund in tertiary institutions, assess NELFUND’s loan disbursement processes, operational readiness, administrative efficiency and students’ access to education loans, while reviewing UBEC’s interventions in basic education.
In addition, the panel will investigate social safety net allocations connected with school feeding programmes, emergency support for displaced students and educational rehabilitation projects implemented through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and NSIPA.
Following Kalu’s presentation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the request for an extension to a voice vote, which received overwhelming support from lawmakers.
With the approval, the committee is expected to submit a comprehensive report covering the utilisation, implementation and accountability of education and social intervention funds linked to student safety and welfare across the country within the next three weeks.
The Safe Schools Initiative was introduced to strengthen security in schools following repeated attacks on educational institutions, particularly in parts of northern Nigeria.
The programme aims to improve school infrastructure, enhance security measures and ensure uninterrupted access to education for children affected by insecurity.
The Senate said the expanded investigation is intended to determine whether funds allocated to education, student welfare and humanitarian interventions are achieving their intended objectives and delivering value for Nigerians.
