The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has announced that the Safe Schools Initiative is now under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education following a major restructuring aimed at strengthening accountability, coordination and the security of schools across the country.
Alausa made the disclosure while speaking with journalists after appearing before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Safe Schools Initiative, chaired by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, at National Assembly,Abuja on Friday.
The minister said the restructuring mark a significant shift in the management of the initiative, with the Safe Schools Financing Unit previously domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Finance now upgraded to a full-fledged Safe Schools Department within the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to him, the new arrangement is designed to improve coordination, enhance oversight and accelerate the implementation of measures aimed at safeguarding schools, students and teachers nationwide.
“The Safe Schools funds are now under the Ministry of Education. We now have a dedicated Safe Schools Department to coordinate implementation and strengthen accountability,” Alausa said.
He clarified that the fund disbursements currently being reviewed by the Senate largely predated his appointment as Minister of Education, explained that the programme was previously managed by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Alausa noted that the funds were released primarily to security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to support efforts to protect schools from attacks and other security threats.
The minister also unveiled what he described as a renewed security framework for schools, saying the Federal Government is pursuing a comprehensive approach that combined improved infrastructure, deployment of technology, stronger collaboration with security agencies and enhanced institutional coordination.
He stressed that securing schools required sustained cooperation among the Federal Government, state governments, security agencies, school administrators, development partners and host communities.
Alausa further cautioned against discussing sensitive operational security issues in the public domain, warned that such disclosures could expose schools to criminal elements.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Education to working closely with the National Assembly and other stakeholders to ensure transparency, accountability and effective implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative.
Earlier, Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Safe Schools Initiative, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, said the investigation was aimed at establishing how funds allocated to the programme were utilised and identifying gaps that require policy and institutional reforms.
Kalu said the committee’s assignment was not only to trace the flow of funds but also to recommend measures that would strengthen the implementation of the initiative and ensure that resources meant for protecting schools deliver the desired results.
The committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the Senate after concluding its investigation into the management and implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative.
