The Senate has expanded its investigation into the Safe Schools Initiative to include the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and several other government agencies.
Lawmakers also gave the Senate ad hoc committee handling the investigation three more weeks to complete its assignment.
The expanded investigation now covers the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
According to the Senate, the wider investigation will help the committee review the funding, implementation and accountability of education and social intervention programmes that affect students’ safety and welfare.
Senate approves wider investigation
The decision followed a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the Safe Schools Initiative, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
Kalu relied on Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders 2026 (as amended). He sought more time for the committee. He also requested an expansion of its terms of reference.
Presenting the motion, Kalu said preliminary findings showed strong links between the Safe Schools Initiative and agencies responsible for education funding, student welfare and social intervention programmes.
He argued that restricting the investigation to the Safe Schools Initiative alone would prevent the Senate from carrying out a complete assessment of school security and education interventions.
Committee to review intervention funds
Kalu said student safety, school infrastructure and social intervention programmes remain closely connected.
He explained that excluding related agencies would weaken legislative oversight.
He also said the expanded mandate would allow lawmakers to prepare a comprehensive report. According to him, the report will strengthen accountability, improve transparency and better protect students.
Under the expanded mandate, the committee will examine funding flows, operational challenges and accountability systems across the affected agencies.
It will also review school feeding allocations. In addition, lawmakers will examine emergency relief for displaced students and education rehabilitation programmes handled by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and NSIPA.
TETFund, NELFUND face scrutiny
The committee will audit infrastructure and security projects financed by TETFund in tertiary institutions.
It will also examine NELFUND’s loan disbursement process, operational readiness, administrative efficiency and students’ access to education loans.
Lawmakers will equally assess UBEC’s interventions in basic education.
Kalu said the committee needed more time because several important aspects of the investigation remained incomplete. He added that the panel had also handled other legislative assignments.
“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.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio conducted a voice vote. Afterwards, lawmakers unanimously approved the request.
Probe followed rising attacks on schools
The Senate inaugurated the ad hoc committee in December 2025 after repeated attacks on schools raised fresh concerns despite years of government funding and security interventions.
The investigation gained further urgency after bandits abducted 25 female students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State.
The attackers also reportedly killed the school’s vice principal during the incident.
The Federal Government launched the Safe Schools Initiative in May 2014 after the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State.
The programme brings together the Federal Government, the United Nations and private sector stakeholders. Together, they work to improve security around schools, especially in conflict-affected communities.
Earlier hearings raised questions
Earlier hearings focused on the ₦15 billion released for the programme in 2023.
The Nigerian Police Force received the largest allocation of ₦6.225 billion.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps received ₦3.362 billion. Defence Headquarters got ₦2.250 billion. The Federal Ministry of Education received ₦519 million. Authorities, however, did not disclose the amount allocated to the Department of State Services.
The committee also questioned alleged financial irregularities and consultancy payments linked to the programme.
It directed the Safe Schools Financing Office to provide a reconciled breakdown of all released funds, expenditures, contractors and supporting documents connected to the Central Bank of Nigeria Trust Fund account.
During one hearing, the National Coordinator of Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria, Hajia Halima Iliya, said the initiative received funding from local and international partners.
According to her, the Federal Government and Nigerian business leaders each contributed $10 million. The African Development Bank donated $1 million. The German Government provided €2 million, while the Norwegian Government contributed $4 million through UNICEF.
The initiative also received support from USAID, the Qatar Foundation and several United Nations agencies.
The committee will present a broader report after completing the expanded investigation. Lawmakers expect the findings to show whether education, security and humanitarian intervention funds are improving the safety, welfare and learning conditions of Nigerian students.
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