The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has received commendation from the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Safe Schools Initiative for his commitment to transparency, accountability and respect for parliamentary oversight, as the Federal Government unveiled fresh measures to strengthen the safety of schools across the country.

The commendation came during an interactive session with the Committee to review the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative, including the utilisation of appropriated funds, international grants and other external support for the programme.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, praised the Minister for consistently honouring invitations from the National Assembly and engaging constructively with lawmakers in the discharge of their oversight responsibilities.

Kalu also lauded Alausa’s ongoing reforms in the education sector, describing them as bold initiatives that are repositioning Nigeria’s education system and contributing to national development. He assured the Minister of the Committee’s continued support towards improving the safety of schools, teachers and learners nationwide.

Responding, Alausa explained that the funds under review, including international grants, foreign donations and appropriated funds, were disbursed several years before his appointment as Minister of Education, noting that the Safe Schools Financing Unit responsible for administering the funds was then domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Finance.

He, however, stressed that the current administration remains fully committed to transparency and accountability in the management of 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,” the Minister said.

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 across the country.

According to him, the new department replaces the former unit with a stronger institutional structure that reflects the Ministry’s constitutional responsibility for education policy, implementation and monitoring.

He added that the Ministry now coordinates the Safe Schools Initiative through a unified national framework aimed at improving implementation, strengthening accountability and enhancing monitoring of interventions across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

The Minister further revealed that the Ministry is collaborating 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.

He noted that the renewed Safe Schools Initiative goes beyond physical security by incorporating perimeter fencing, solar-powered lighting, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, surveillance technology, trained security personnel, technology-driven early warning systems, effective monitoring mechanisms and stronger collaboration among federal and state governments, local communities and security agencies.

Alausa said the establishment of the dedicated department underscores President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child, from foundational to tertiary education, has access to a safe, secure and conducive learning environment.

The Minister 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 will safeguard schools and improve learning outcomes across the country.

He assured Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to provide the leadership, policy direction and strategic partnerships required to build a safer and more resilient education system where every child can learn without fear.