WorldStage– The Nigerian Senate has widened its probe into the Safe Schools Initiative, granting its ad-hoc committee an extra three weeks to investigate following reports of continued vulnerability in schools despite significant funding.
The move, according to the Senate, aims to trace the flow of funds and address inconsistencies in how over N15 billion was disbursed for security measures, such as cameras and alarm systems.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu initiated the expansion, highlighting the need to look beyond initial investigations to understand why over $30 million in donor and public funds failed to secure educational institutions.
The expanded investigation will now audit key bodies including the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and agencies under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Lawmakers are demanding accountability for unfulfilled promises and the lack of basic security infrastructure, such as perimeter fencing, in thousands of schools.
The committee, which has already questioned the national coordinator regarding these issues, has been given additional time to summon officials from the newly included agencies and complete its investigation into the management of the initiative.
