The Nigerian Senate has raised serious concerns over the utilisation of funds allocated to the Safe Schools Initiative (SSI), particularly the ₦6.225 billion given to the Nigerian Police Force from the ₦15 billion released in 2023.

The issues were highlighted by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the programme, following a hearing with Hajia Halima Iliya, National Coordinator of Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria.

The committee expressed alarm over reports of financial irregularities and unusually high consultancy spending in the multi-agency programme aimed at protecting schools from terrorist attacks and mass abductions. Kalu ordered a full reconciliation of all financial records, requiring a comprehensive breakdown of funds released, expenditures, contractor details, and supporting documentation from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Trust Fund account.

Iliya traced the SSI to the 2014 Chibok abduction and detailed contributions to the Trust Fund from the Federal Government, business leaders, African Development Bank, German and Norwegian governments, UNICEF, UN agencies, USAID, and Qatar Foundation. She confirmed 2023 allocations as follows: Nigerian Police Force — ₦6.225 billion; NSCDC — ₦3.362 billion; Defence Headquarters — ₦2.25 billion; Federal Ministry of Education — ₦519 million, with DSS’s allocation undisclosed.

Tensions arose when Senator Oluranti Idiat (APC, Lagos Central) questioned why nearly half of ₦4.44 billion had gone to consultancy and operational expenses, almost equaling project spending. Iliya clarified that those figures related to 2014, not the 2023 cycle.

Senators Musa Maidoki and Kenneth Eze raised concerns about funding allocations to multiple security agencies, stressing that performance-based, community-focused funding is crucial, and flagged potential misappropriation due to unclear financial submissions.

The committee reaffirmed that no further action will proceed until full, verifiable records are provided.