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From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
The Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative (SSI) yesterday intensified its probe into the alleged financial irregularities, questionable consultancy spending and the utilisation of funds released to implementing agencies, particularly the Nigerian Police Force, which received the single largest tranche of ₦6.225 billion from the ₦15 billion disbursed in 2023.
The committee, chaired by Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, grilled the National Coordinator, Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria, Hajia Halima Iliya, over funding inflows, expenditure patterns and the current state of the multi-agency security programme designed to protect schools from terrorists’ attacks and mass abductions.
Hajia Iliya traced the origins of the programme to the 2014 abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls, when former President Goodluck Jonathan, in collaboration with international partners, launched the Safe Schools Initiative.
She listed major contributions to the CBN-domiciled Trust Fund to include Federal Government: $10m (₦1.5 billion), Nigerian Business Leaders: $10m (₦2 billion), African Development Bank (ADB): $1 million (₦200 million), German Government: €2 million (₦1 billion), Norwegian Government: $4 million (managed by UNICEF), UN Multi-Donor Trust Fund: Contributions from UNICEF, UNDP, UNOPS, USAID & Qatar Foundation: $4 million combined.
She also outlined the historic structure involving a steering committee co-chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the UN Special Envoy on Education, with governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe; key ministries; NEMA; the North East Development Commission and business leaders, such as Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola.
The National Coordinator confirmed that in 2023, the Federal Government released ₦15 billion, allocated as follows: Nigerian Police Force – ₦6.225 billion, National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) – ₦3.362 billion, Department of State Security (DSS) – amount not publicly stated during session, Defence Headquarters –₦2.250 billion and Federal Ministry of Education – ₦519 million
She also stated that Safe Schools financing had no budget in 2024 or 2025, explaining that her request for inclusion in the 2024 fiscal year got to the President too late.
The sharpest confrontation of the session emerged when Senator Oluranti Idiat Adegbule raised concerns that almost half of the N4.44 billion previously reviewed in related documents had been spent on consultancy and operational expenses, nearly equaling what was spent on the core Safe School projects.
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“You have used almost half of N4.44 billion for consultancy and operational expenses, and spent about N4 billion on the project itself. Don’t you think that is why you are not getting another budget?” she asked.
Hajia Iliya insisted that the referenced documents were not for the 2023 funding cycle: “This document I presented is out of respect for this committee. The document you are reading is for 2014, not 2023. The Safe Schools programme was launched in 2023 when the N15 billion was released.”
Senator Adegbule retorted: “You’re not doing us a favour. Please withdraw that statement.”
In his intervention, Senator Musa Maidoki raised a broader policy concern.
“We already have a budget for the Army, Police and others. Why give them another budget? If you have this money, release it only when they perform. Safe School funding must be domiciled in the community and not put where it is not needed.”
Senator Kenneth Eze expressed skepticism about the authenticity and clarity of the financial submissions before the committee.
“Funds have been misappropriated and we need to know. Anyone can draft this. The calculation of expenses raises serious concern, especially the amount spent on consultancy.”
Committee chairman, Senator Kalu, directed the Safe Schools financing office to return with a comprehensive and rectified breakdown of all funds released, all expenditures made, names and details of contractors who received funds and full documentation from the CBN Trust Fund account.
He emphasised that the committee would not proceed without clear, verifiable financial records.
