The Senate on Tuesday extended by three weeks the lifespan of its ad hoc committee investigating the Safe Schools Initiative and expanded the scope of the probe to include 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).
The Red Chamber said the expanded investigation is aimed at carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the funding, implementation and accountability of education and social intervention programmes connected to the safety and welfare of students across the country.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by the Chairman of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on the Safe Schools Initiative, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), pursuant to Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders, 2026 (as amended), seeking an expansion of the committee’s terms of reference and additional time to conclude its assignment.
Presenting the motion, Kalu told lawmakers that preliminary findings from the committee’s investigation revealed strong links between the Safe Schools Initiative and several government agencies responsible for educational funding, student welfare, humanitarian interventions and social investment programmes.
According to him, restricting the investigation to the Safe Schools Initiative alone would prevent the Senate from carrying out a holistic assessment of issues affecting school security and educational interventions nationwide.
“The issues surrounding student security, educational infrastructure funding and social intervention schemes for vulnerable learners across the country are deeply interwoven.
Investigating the Safe Schools Initiative without reviewing these complementary bodies will result in fragmented legislative oversight,” Kalu said.
He explained that broadening the committee’s mandate had become necessary to enable the Senate produce a comprehensive report capable of strengthening accountability, improving transparency in the management of intervention funds and enhancing the protection of students across the country.
Under the expanded mandate, the committee will investigate financial flows, operational challenges and accountability mechanisms across the Safe Schools Initiative and the additional agencies.
The panel will also review social safety net allocations connected to school feeding programmes, emergency relief for displaced students and educational rehabilitation initiatives implemented through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and NSIPA.
In addition, the committee is expected to audit infrastructure and security-related intervention projects funded by TETFund in tertiary institutions, assess NELFUND’s loan disbursement processes, operational readiness, administrative efficiency and students’ access to education loans, as well as examine UBEC’s interventions in basic education.
Seeking the Senate’s approval for an extension of the committee’s tenure, Kalu said the panel required additional time because several critical aspects of the investigation remained outstanding due to its extensive workload and other legislative engagements.
“We’re supposed to submit our report, and there are four key areas that were not done. I needed the permission of the Senate so that we can conclude it in the next two or three weeks and come back with a report,” he said.
Following a voice vote conducted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, lawmakers unanimously approved the request, granting the committee an additional three weeks to conclude its assignment.
The Senate constituted the ad hoc committee in December 2025 following growing concerns over persistent attacks on schools despite years of government funding and policy interventions aimed at protecting educational institutions.
The investigation gained greater urgency after the abduction of 25 female students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, during which bandits reportedly killed the school’s vice principal, reigniting national concerns over the safety of students and teachers in vulnerable communities.
The Safe Schools Initiative was established in May 2014 following the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State.
Conceived as a partnership involving the Federal Government, the United Nations and private sector stakeholders, the initiative was designed to strengthen security infrastructure around schools, particularly in conflict-affected areas.
READ ALSO: Senate Orders Full Probe as Safe School Funds Under Fire
Since commencing its investigation, the Senate committee has scrutinised the utilisation of funds released for the programme, including the ₦15 billion approved in 2023.
According to previous submissions before the committee, the Nigerian Police Force received the highest allocation of ₦6.225 billion, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps received ₦3.362 billion.
Defence Headquarters received ₦2.250 billion, while the Federal Ministry of Education was allocated ₦519 million. The amount released to the Department of State Services was not publicly disclosed.
The committee also questioned alleged financial irregularities and consultancy payments under the programme and directed the Safe Schools Financing Office to submit a reconciled breakdown of all funds released, expenditures, contractors and supporting documents relating to the Central Bank of Nigeria Trust Fund account.
During one of the investigative hearings, the National Coordinator of Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria, Hajia Halima Iliya, disclosed that the initiative received funding from both domestic and international partners, including $10 million each from the Federal Government and Nigerian business leaders, $1 million from the African Development Bank, €2 million from the German Government, $4 million from the Norwegian Government managed through UNICEF, as well as additional support from USAID, the Qatar Foundation and various United Nations agencies.
With the expansion of its mandate, the Senate committee is expected to present a broader assessment of how education, security and humanitarian intervention funds are being utilised and whether the various programmes are effectively addressing the safety, welfare and educational needs of Nigerian students.