Senate gives more time for Safe Schools Programme investigation

The Senate on Tuesday added two more weeks for its ad hoc committee that is looking into how over $30 million was spent on Nigeria’s Safe Schools Programme. This programme started in 2014 to protect students and schools from attacks.

The Senate also expanded the committee's work to check into education funds managed by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

The committee will also look into how education support funds from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, along with the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), were used.

The Senate agreed to this after considering a motion from the committee chairman, Orji Kalu. He asked for more time and a broader scope for the investigation.

The 13-member ad hoc committee was formed on 27 November 2025 after a motion by Abdullahi Yahaya (APC, Kebbi North). He raised worries about increasing cases of student kidnappings and attacks on schools and churches across the country.

When the committee was set up, the Senate asked them to submit a report in four weeks. But now, nearly eight months later, the committee needs more time to finish its work.

The Safe Schools Programme was created after the Chibok schoolgirls were kidnapped. It was meant to work at different levels, with state efforts and national coordination through agencies like the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Safe School Parents Watch Network.

Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, explained that the investigation into the Safe Schools Programme would not be complete without looking at the actions of federal agencies that handle education funding, student welfare, and social programs.

"The issues around student security, education funding, and social programs for vulnerable students are closely linked. Investigating the Safe Schools Initiative without looking at these agencies will lead to poor legislative oversight," Kalu told his colleagues.

He also mentioned that the recent primary elections by political parties stopped committee members from visiting some areas they needed to inspect.

"There are some places we haven’t been able to cover. Party nominations have affected us and made it hard for us to go where we should go," he added.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, put the motion to a vote. Most senators supported it with voice votes. Akpabio then approved the motion, giving the committee more weeks to submit its report and expanding its investigation.

Nigeria is still facing serious security challenges, with frequent kidnappings and attacks on communities, schools, and churches. This continues despite the large amounts the government spends on security each year.

On 17 November 2025, terrorists with advanced weapons attacked Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi State. They kidnapped 25 schoolgirls from their dormitory, killed the vice principal, and injured a local security guard.

The students were freed on Sunday, 23 November.

On 19 November 2025, terrorists attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State. They killed three worshippers and took 38 others. All the worshippers were later freed.

On 21 November 2025, armed men invaded St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Niger State, taking 303 pupils, students, and staff. This caused widespread anger and calls for better security.

On 15 May, gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, kidnapping many pupils and three teachers. Two of the teachers were killed in captivity. One of them, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded, and the other, John Olaleye, a pastor, was also killed.

The rescued schoolchildren and their teacher were freed last week in a joint operation by the military and other security agencies after spending 56 days in captivity.