The Senate has set up a 13-member ad-hoc committee to investigate all funds allocated to the Safe Schools Initiative (SSI) by the Federal Government and international partners, following continued attacks on schools despite years of multi-billion-naira investment.
The decision came after an urgent motion by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North), which was prompted by last week’s attack on Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where gunmen killed the vice principal and abducted 25 students.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North) will chair the committee, with Senator Sahabi Yau (APC, Zamfara North) as Vice Chairman. Other members include Senators Tony Nwoye, Oluranti Idiat, Yemi Adaramodu, Banigo Ipalibo, Ede Dafinone, Mustapha Saliu, Diket Plang, Binos Yaroe, Kaka Shehu Lawan, Madori Abdulhamid and Maidoki Garba. The committee has four weeks to submit its report.
The Safe Schools Initiative was launched in May 2014 after the abduction of more than 300 Chibok schoolgirls in Borno State. Introduced by former President Goodluck Jonathan in collaboration with the United Nations and Nigerian business leaders, the programme was designed to protect educational institutions through school-based interventions, community security measures and special support for high-risk areas.
Despite significant funding, recurring school attacks across the country have raised questions about its implementation concerns the Senate committee is now expected to address.
