By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and learner safety across Nigeria, after the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Safe Schools Initiative commended him for his consistent cooperation with the National Assembly and respect for parliamentary oversight.
The commendation came during an interactive session convened by the Committee to review implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative, including the utilisation of appropriated funds, international grants, and other external support provided for the programme.
Committee Chairman, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, described Dr. Alausa as a public servant who has consistently honoured invitations from the National Assembly and engaged constructively with lawmakers in the discharge of their oversight responsibilities.
The Senator also praised the Minister’s ongoing reforms in the education sector as bold initiatives strengthening Nigeria’s education system and contributing to national development, and reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to supporting efforts to improve safety in schools nationwide.
Addressing Committee members, Dr. Alausa clarified that the funds under review — including international grants, foreign donations, and appropriated funds — were disbursed several years before his appointment as Minister, at a time when the Safe Schools Financing Unit responsible for administering them was domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Finance. He stressed that although the disbursements predated his tenure, the Federal Government remained fully committed to transparency and accountability in managing public resources.
“Government is a continuum. We have a responsibility to account to Nigerians for how public resources have been managed, and we will continue to cooperate fully with the distinguished Senate in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities,” he said.
Dr. Alausa disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education has established a full-fledged Safe Schools Department to provide strategic leadership, coordination, and oversight of school safety programmes nationwide. The new department replaces the former unit with a stronger institutional structure reflecting the Ministry’s constitutional responsibility for education policy, implementation, and monitoring.
The Minister explained that the Ministry now coordinates the Safe Schools Initiative through a unified national framework designed to strengthen implementation, improve accountability, and enhance monitoring of interventions across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas.
He added that the Ministry is working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other relevant agencies to develop and implement a comprehensive national framework for safer schools.
“School safety cannot be handled in a fragmented manner. The Safe Schools Initiative has many interconnected components that require a coordinated national approach. While our security agencies will continue to perform their constitutional responsibilities, the Federal Ministry of Education will provide policy direction, coordinate implementation with states, and ensure that every school benefits from the programme.”
The Minister noted that the renewed Safe Schools Initiative extends beyond physical security to integrate perimeter fencing, solar-powered lighting, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, surveillance technology, trained security personnel, technology-driven early warning systems, and stronger collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, local communities, and security agencies to create safer, more conducive learning environments.
He observed that the establishment of the dedicated department reflects the unwavering commitment of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, to ensuring that every Nigerian child — from foundational to tertiary education — has access to a safe, secure, and conducive learning environment.
Dr. Alausa thanked the Senate Ad-hoc Committee for its constructive engagement and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working closely with the National Assembly, security agencies, state governments, and other stakeholders to strengthen accountability, improve coordination, and deliver sustainable solutions that safeguard schools and enhance learning outcomes nationwide.
He assured Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Education will continue to provide the leadership, policy direction, and strategic partnerships needed to build a safer, more resilient education system where every child can learn without fear.
