Senate Broadens Safe Schools Probe to Key Education and Social Intervention Agencies

The Senate has extended the timeline of its ad hoc committee investigating the Safe Schools Initiative by three weeks while significantly expanding its scope to cover major federal education and social intervention agencies.

Following a motion moved by committee chairman Senator Orji Uzor Kalu under Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders, the red chamber unanimously voted to include the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Universal Basic Education Commission, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and National Social Investment Programme Agency in the probe.

Senator Kalu informed lawmakers that preliminary findings revealed interconnected funding and operational ties between the Safe Schools Initiative and key government bodies managing student welfare, educational infrastructure, and emergency relief. He stated that restricting the inquiry solely to the Safe Schools programme would yield a fragmented assessment of student security and public spending accountability.

Under the expanded terms of reference, the panel will audit TETFund-financed security and infrastructure projects in higher institutions, review student loan disbursements and readiness at NELFUND, examine UBEC interventions in basic education, and assess social safety net allocations meant for emergency relief and school feeding.

The ad hoc committee was initially inaugurated in December 2025 to scrutinize the management and effectiveness of funds allocated to secure learning environments following repeated school security breaches across the country. The extended three-week window will allow the panel to conclude outstanding reviews and submit a comprehensive report to the Senate.