The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Safe Schools Initiative has commenced an investigation into the management and disbursement of funds allocated to the programme.
The probe covers foreign grants, donations from development partners and budgetary appropriations released for the implementation of the initiative.
Newsextra24 reports that the Chairman of the committee, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, announced the investigation on Friday during the committee’s inaugural session at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Kalu said the investigation was part of efforts to promote accountability and ensure that funds meant to protect schools and children were properly utilised.
The senator stressed that the probe was not targeted at any particular individual or official.
He, however, maintained that the government had a responsibility to account for all public funds, regardless of when the money was released or who was in office at the time.
“Government is a continuum. Whether these funds were released before the present minister assumed office or not, government remains responsible for accounting for every kobo entrusted to it,” Kalu said.
He also warned public officials that they were required to answer questions from the National Assembly when necessary.
“This is the seat of democracy. Every minister appointed by the executive must be accountable to the representatives of the Nigerian people,” he stated.
Kalu explained that some aspects of the committee’s proceedings would be conducted behind closed doors because of the security implications of attacks on schools.
He said information relating to banditry, terrorism and attacks on educational institutions could not be openly discussed if doing so would expose sensitive security details.
“Banditry, terrorism and attacks on schools are matters of national security. We will not discuss sensitive operational issues in public because we do not want to expose information that could be useful to criminals,” the committee chairman stated.
