Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has demanded that the Federal Government account for the N144.86 billion allocated to the Financing Safe Schools Initiative between 2023 and 2026.
Atiku raised the demand amid renewed concerns over the safety of schools nationwide, following a fresh wave of attacks and abductions targeting pupils, students and teachers.
The Safe Schools Initiative was designed to strengthen security in educational institutions and protect children from attacks, with the Federal Government committing a total of N144.86 billion to the programme for the 2023–2026 period.
Atiku, however, questioned the impact of the huge spending, arguing that the continued attacks on schools showed the initiative had failed to deliver the protection it promised.
He called on the government to give Nigerians a detailed account of how the funds were disbursed and utilised, along with the specific projects and security measures implemented under the programme.
The former vice president said persistent insecurity around schools had become a serious threat to education and the future of Nigerian children.
His demand comes as the Senate continues its investigation into the Safe Schools Initiative. An ad hoc committee expanded the probe in July to cover other education-related agencies, including TETFund, NELFUND, UBEC and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, in a bid to establish how funds meant for education and school safety had been managed.
Atiku has repeatedly criticised the Federal Government over attacks on schools, saying worsening insecurity makes a mockery of the Safe Schools Initiative and calling for urgent action to rescue abducted schoolchildren.
He insisted that protecting schools must go beyond policy announcements, stressing that adequate security, accountability and effective implementation were necessary to guarantee a safe learning environment for Nigerian children.
Atiku challenged the Federal Government to make public a full breakdown of the N144.86 billion Safe Schools Fund and show how the expenditure had translated into improved security for schools across the country.
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