The Federal Government has announced enhanced strategies to reinforce the Safe Schools Initiative, with a focus on deeper collaboration with security agencies to safeguard teachers, pupils, and educational facilities across all 774 local government areas of the country.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed the new measures while addressing journalists after an engagement with the Senate ad hoc committee on the Safe Schools Initiative. He emphasized that the strengthened framework is designed to ensure safer learning environments and bolster confidence in Nigeria’s education system.
He also called for the transfer of the management of funds for the initiative from the Federal Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Education to ensure more effective implementation.
Alausa stated that the ministry was working closely with key security agencies to develop a comprehensive national framework for school safety.
“We are collaborating closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to develop a comprehensive Safe Schools framework. School safety cannot be handled in a fragmented manner,” he said.
According to the minister, the initiative extends beyond physical security to include critical infrastructure and monitoring mechanisms.
“Safe Schools’ is much broader than physical security. It includes perimeter fencing, solar-powered lighting, water and sanitation facilities, recruitment of school security personnel, deployment of technology and the establishment of effective monitoring systems,” the minister noted.
Alausa further underscored the need for a central coordination mechanism, noting that the Ministry of Education should provide policy direction and oversee implementation in collaboration with state governments.
He said, “There are many components of the Safe Schools Initiative, and they require a central command-and-control structure. While the security agencies will continue to perform their constitutional duties, the Federal Ministry of Education will provide policy direction, coordinate implementation with states and ensure that every school benefits from the programme’.
While addressing the committee chaired by the Chairman, Senator Orji Kalu (Abia North), the minister said that since assuming office, the only major disbursements under the initiative had been made to the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps through the Federal Ministry of Finance.
He, however, disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education had established a full-fledged Safe Schools Department to strengthen implementation, replacing the former unit, which he described as inadequate.
“Since I assumed office, the only significant disbursements have been targeted interventions to security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Those payments were administered through the Federal Ministry of Finance,” he said.
“We have now established a full-fledged safe schools department within the Federal Ministry of Education. Previously, there was only a small unit, but we felt that was inadequate considering the importance of school safety. That is why we are seeking to have the management of the fund domiciled in the Ministry of Education.”
Responding to concerns over the management of the fund, the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, downplayed any disagreement between the two ministries, saying the matter would be resolved administratively.
He maintained that the priority of government was to ensure adequate funding and timely release of resources to improve school security nationwide.
“For us, it is not so much about who controls the budget; that is not the important issue. Government policy provides that service-wide votes and intervention funds are managed by the Ministry of Finance because the minister serves as the accountant for the country, working with the Office of the Accountant-General. Between us, we will sort out those issues,” Oyedele noted.
“The priority is to ensure that funding is adequate and that the monies are released on time so that these crimes can be prevented rather than trying to do damage control.”
