The Nigerian Senate has raised serious questions over the management of ₦15 billion released in 2023 under the Safe Schools Initiative (SSI), highlighting the ₦6.225 billion allocated to the Nigerian Police Force as the largest share.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee probing the programme, disclosed the concerns after questioning Hajia Halima Iliya, National Coordinator of Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria.
The committee flagged possible financial irregularities and excessive consultancy spending in the multi-agency programme aimed at protecting schools from attacks and abductions. Kalu ordered a full reconciliation of all accounts and directed the Safe Schools Financing Office to provide a detailed breakdown of disbursed funds, expenditures, contractor details, and complete documentation from the Central Bank of Nigeria Trust Fund.
Iliya traced the initiative to the 2014 Chibok abductions and detailed contributions from the Federal Government, Nigerian business leaders, African Development Bank, Germany, Norway (via UNICEF), UN agencies, USAID, and Qatar Foundation.
She confirmed 2023 allocations: Police — ₦6.225 billion; NSCDC — ₦3.362 billion; Defence Headquarters — ₦2.25 billion; Federal Ministry of Education — ₦519 million; while DSS’s allocation was not disclosed. She added that the Safe Schools Financing Office had no budget for 2024 and 2025.
Tensions arose when Senator Oluranti Idiat (APC, Lagos Central) challenged the high consultancy and operational costs, questioning whether nearly half of ₦4.44 billion had been spent on non-core activities. Iliya said the figure related to 2014, not 2023, prompting stern rebuttals from the committee.
Senators Musa Maidoki (APC, Kebbi South) and Kenneth Eze (APC, Ebonyi Central) also raised concerns about separate allocations to security agencies and potential mismanagement.
The committee stressed that the probe would continue and no further steps would be taken until full, transparent, and verifiable financial records are submitted.
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