The Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the Safe Schools Initiative has intensified its probe into the management of government appropriations and international donor funds earmarked for the protection of schools across Nigeria.
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The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, appeared before the committee on Friday to account for the administration, release and disbursement of funds allocated to the programme.
The hearing, held at the National Assembly and chaired by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, came hours after the committee questioned the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, as part of its wider investigation into the implementation and financial management of the initiative.
The Senate had earlier expanded the committee’s mandate to cover the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Universal Basic Education Commission, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and the National Social Investment Programme Agency.
Welcoming Oyedele and his delegation, Kalu commended the minister for honouring the invitation, describing his regular appearances before Senate committees as evidence of respect for parliamentary oversight and public accountability.
“Honourable Minister, permit me to commend you publicly. Every time the Senate invites you, you make yourself available. That demonstrates respect for Parliament and for the Nigerian people whom this institution represents,” Kalu said.
The committee chairman explained that the Senate constituted the panel to investigate the funding, implementation and accountability structure of the Safe Schools Initiative following concerns raised by its preliminary examination of financial records.
He said the Ministry of Finance occupied a central position in the investigation because of its responsibility for managing public finances and supervising the disbursement of government and donor funds.
“Our responsibility is to trace financial allocations, donor contributions, disbursements and the utilisation of resources dedicated to protecting Nigerian schools and guaranteeing a safe learning environment,” he said.
Kalu maintained that the investigation was neither politically motivated nor intended to victimise any ministry, agency or government official.
He said the exercise was being conducted pursuant to the Senate’s investigative powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution and was aimed at ensuring accountability, value for money and the protection of schoolchildren.
“This investigation is not a witch-hunt. It is a constitutional responsibility under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution. Our objective is to ensure financial accountability, value for money and the protection of Nigerian schoolchildren,” Kalu stated.
The chairman acknowledged that several transactions under investigation occurred before Oyedele assumed office but stressed that government institutions remained accountable despite changes in political or administrative leadership.
“We recognise that you were not the Minister of Finance when many of these transactions occurred. Nevertheless, government is a continuum, and institutions remain accountable,” he said.
Oyedele became Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy following a cabinet reshuffle in April 2026, succeeding Wale Edun.
Citing the security sensitivity of the information being examined, Kalu directed that the detailed questioning of the minister should take place in executive session.
“We cannot discuss sensitive operational details in public because criminals are listening. Matters relating to the protection of our schools require confidentiality,” he said.
In his opening remarks, Oyedele reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency and cooperation with the National Assembly.
He described the security of schools as a national priority, arguing that protecting educational institutions was essential to safeguarding Nigeria’s future.
“We appreciate the Senate’s interest in the safety of our schools because this is not only about protecting today’s students; it is about safeguarding the future of our country,” he said.
The minister introduced members of his delegation, including the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Salisu, senior officials responsible for the Safe Schools Initiative and his Chief of Staff.
Responding to questions from the committee, Oyedele acknowledged that the government had identified weaknesses requiring urgent attention, particularly delays in releasing funds to agencies responsible for implementing school-protection measures.
He identified the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the State Security Service and other institutions involved in protecting schools as agencies requiring prompt access to approved funds.
“We have identified areas requiring improvement, especially the prompt release of funds to agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the State Security Service and other institutions involved in protecting schools,” he said.
The Senate’s investigation previously examined the disbursement of ₦15 billion released in 2023, including ₦6.225 billion allocated to the police, ₦3.362 billion to the NSCDC, ₦2.25 billion to Defence Headquarters and ₦519 million to the Federal Ministry of Education.
Oyedele assured lawmakers that the Ministry of Finance was strengthening its transparency and accountability mechanisms to ensure that public resources allocated to school security were properly administered.
“We are fully committed to transparency. Where shortcomings exist, we will work with the National Assembly to correct them and strengthen our systems,” he said.
Echoing the position earlier expressed by Alausa, Oyedele said officials heading government institutions must accept responsibility for actions taken by those institutions before their appointments.
“Whether those issues occurred before my appointment or not is secondary. Government is a continuum. Once we accept public office, we also accept responsibility for the institutions we lead,” he said.
Speaking with journalists after the closed-door session, the finance minister addressed reports that responsibility for the Safe Schools Initiative had been transferred from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Education.
Oyedele said the debate should not focus on which ministry controlled the budget but on whether approved resources were released promptly and effectively used to protect schools.
“The first point to emphasise is that keeping our schools safe is a shared responsibility. Whether it is the National Assembly, the Executive, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education or the state governments, everyone has a role to play,” he said.
He explained that different institutions had distinct responsibilities within the programme, with the Ministry of Finance performing its statutory role as the custodian and manager of Federal Government finances through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
“The real issue is not who controls the budget. Certain intervention funds and service-wide votes are, by law, administered by the Ministry of Finance because it serves as the financial manager of the Federal Government,” he said.
Oyedele maintained that the central concern should be ensuring that implementing agencies receive sufficient resources before attacks occur rather than releasing funds only after schoolchildren and teachers have been abducted or killed.
“What matters most is ensuring that funding is adequate and released on time. Timely funding helps prevent attacks rather than forcing government into damage control after tragedies have occurred,” he said.
The minister, however, cautioned that funding alone could not completely eradicate insecurity or guarantee that attacks would never occur.
“There is no guarantee that even unlimited resources would eradicate insecurity entirely. However, adequate funding and timely intervention can significantly reduce risks and strengthen preventive measures,” he stated.
Oyedele also appealed to journalists and Nigerians to support security operations by avoiding narratives capable of weakening public confidence or amplifying the propaganda of terrorist and criminal groups.
“Sometimes, we unintentionally amplify the activities of terrorists while questioning every effort made by security agencies. The narratives we promote can either strengthen or weaken the fight against insecurity,” he said.
Calling for collective action, the minister said protecting schools was a responsibility extending beyond the Federal Government and its security agencies.
“It is in our collective interest to come together as one people in confronting insecurity. Protecting our schools and securing the future of our children is a responsibility shared by every Nigerian,” he added.
The committee is expected to continue reviewing documents, financial records and evidence obtained from the finance and education ministries before preparing its findings and recommendations for consideration by the Senate.
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