Senate Extends Safe Schools Initiative Probe by Three Weeks

The Nigerian Senate has expanded the mandate of its Ad-hoc Committee investigating the Safe Schools Initiative (SSI) and granted a three-week extension for the completion of its assignment. This decision, made on Tuesday, includes a broader scope covering TETFund, NELFUND, UBEC, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and NSIPA.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the Committee Chairman from the All Progressives Congress representing Abia North, moved the motion for the extension, citing preliminary findings that indicate significant links between SSI funding and various federal institutions responsible for education and social intervention. Kalu argued that isolating SSI would lead to an incomplete assessment of school security and educational infrastructure.

The committee will now evaluate financial flows, operational challenges, and accountability structures across SSI and the newly included agencies, focusing on social safety net allocations, school feeding, and rehabilitation programs. Kalu noted that time constraints had hindered planned visits to critical locations, necessitating the extension.