The upper chamber of Nigeria’s National Assembly has announced a formal investigation into the funds allocated to the Safe School Initiative (SSI), following a fresh wave of school kidnappings and attacks, a development that has renewed public outrage and shaken confidence in the programme’s effectiveness.
At the heart of this move is an 18-member ad-hoc committee, chaired by Orji Uzor Kalu. The committee’s mandate is sweeping: it will carry out both operational and financial audits covering every naira and dollar allocated to SSI since its inception. The lawmakers emphasised that this probe is not about witch-hunts, but about restoring trust and ensuring accountability after repeated failures to protect children.
Senator Kalu, echoing the sentiment of many parents and concerned citizens, described as “unacceptable” the fact that, despite large investments, schools remain soft targets. He cited official data suggesting that more than 1,680 children have been abducted and at least 180 educational institutions attacked since 2014, a grim track record that flies in the face of the initiative’s promise.
The trigger for the Senate’s renewed action was a recent tragedy: a deadly raid on the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State. In that brutal attack, bandits killed the school’s vice-principal and abducted 25 female students. The incident prompted an urgent motion from Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North), who condemned the attack as “a dirty slap in the face of our nation.”
During plenary, other prominent senators rallied behind the investigation. Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan called for a forensic review of fund flows and demanded clear answers on expenditure. The consensus was stark: if billions have been budgeted for school protection, children should not continue to be vulnerable to abductions and insurgent violence.
Why the probe matters
The Safe School Initiative was launched in 2014 after the harrowing abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok. The plan, backed by the government, international partners and private donors, was meant to secure vulnerable schools with better infrastructure, security frameworks and community support. Over the years, the financing strategy ballooned; between 2023 and 2026 the programme was slated to receive nearly ₦144.8 billion under its National Plan, in addition to earlier foreign-funded disbursements totalling over $30 million.
Yet, as recent events show, large budgets have not translated into safe schools. Persistent attacks and abductions indicate systemic failures, whether in implementation, coordination, or oversight. The Senate’s decision to audit funds and review performance, then, comes at a critical moment, responding to citizens’ frustrations and calling for transparency.
What happens next
The ad-hoc committee has been given a tight timeframe. It is expected to report back within four weeks, with findings that will be made public. The scope will cover:
- Disbursement and utilisation records for both federal and donor funds.
- Deployment and effectiveness of security personnel and response systems.
- Infrastructure upgrades, early-warning and emergency-response mechanisms in schools deemed high risk.
Senator Kalu affirmed that this investigation is not about assigning blame to individuals, but about re-engineering the initiative to restore faith in Nigeria’s commitment to child safety and education.
As Nigeria watches, many are hoping the probe will mark the beginning of genuine change, not just more promises, but real protection for children and redemption for a programme that once held so much hope.
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