Nigeria Enhances Safe Schools Initiative with New Measures

On Friday, the Federal Government of Nigeria outlined stronger measures for the Safe Schools Initiative, focusing on the involvement of security agencies to ensure the safety of teachers and pupils across all 774 local government councils. Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, made this announcement during an interface with the Senate’s Ad-hoc committee on the initiative.

He requested the transfer of fund management for the initiative from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Education, stating that the ministry is collaborating with various security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Police, to develop a comprehensive national framework for school safety. Alausa highlighted that school safety encompasses more than just physical security, including infrastructure improvements and technology deployment.

He noted that a full-fledged Safe Schools Department has been established within the Ministry of Education to ensure effective implementation. In a separate interview, Minister of Finance Mr. Taiwo Oyedele stated that the management of funds between the two ministries would be resolved.