The Senate has actually broadened the scope of its ongoing examination into the Safe Schools Effort (SSI) to consist of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Hardship Relief, and the National Social Investment Program Company (NSIPA).
The upper legislative chamber also granted its advertisement hoc committee an extra three weeks to conclude the investigation.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North and chairman of the Senate ad hoc committee investigating the Safe Schools Effort.
Providing the motion, Kalu said initial findings revealed that the implementation and financing of the effort are closely connected to a number of federal government companies accountable for education financing, student welfare and social intervention programs.
According to him, restricting the examination to the Safe Schools Initiative alone would not supply a total image of the obstacles affecting school security, instructional facilities and assistance for susceptible learners.
He explained that the broadened mandate would make it possible for the committee to take a look at funding circulations, functional obstacles and accountability mechanisms throughout the afflicted companies to make sure openness and improve the efficiency of government interventions.
The committee is also anticipated to review social safeguard allotments connected to school feeding programmes, emergency relief for displaced students and instructional rehab efforts managed by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and NSIPA.
In addition, the panel will investigate infrastructure and security jobs moneyed by TETFund, examine NELFUND’s loan disbursement procedure and operational effectiveness, and examine UBEC’s interventions in fundamental education.
Kalu asked for additional time to complete check outs to crucial areas, noting that four important aspects of the examination were yet to be concluded.
Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio observed that the committee could have presented an interim report but consequently put the demand to a voice vote. Lawmakers unanimously authorized both the growth of the committee’s required and the three-week extension.
The Senate inaugurated the ad hoc committee in December 2025 to examine the execution of the Safe Schools Effort following persistent attacks on schools regardless of years of financing. The probe was further triggered by the abduction of 25 female students from Federal government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, during which the school’s vice-principal was supposedly killed.
The Safe Schools Effort was launched in 2014 following the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State. It was established through a partnership including the Federal government, the United Nations and private sector stakeholders to reinforce security in schools, especially in conflict-affected neighborhoods.