Moving to address the persistent threat of mass abductions and banditry targeting educational institutions, the House of Representatives on Wednesday moved to tighten oversight on school safety, calling for a comprehensive investigation into the country’s multi-billion naira security initiatives.
The resolution, sponsored by Hon. Olusoji Abidemi Adetunji, highlights growing legislative frustration over continued attacks on schools despite a massive N144.77 billion national investment framework earmarked for school protection.
Lawmakers expressed deep concern that despite constitutional guarantees placing public safety as the government’s primary duty, schools nationwide remain highly vulnerable.
The push for a more aggressive National Safe Schools Protection and Rapid Response Framework comes more than a decade after Nigeria launched its initial Safe Schools Initiative in the wake of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirl abductions.
While the Federal Government introduced a subsequent National Plan on Financing Safe Schools (2023–2026)—drawing together the Ministry of Education, security agencies, and international development partners—lawmakers noted that the reality on the ground remains grim, particularly in vulnerable areas.
“Despite the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative and related interventions, incidents of school attacks and mass abductions have continued to occur,” the motion stated. The House observed that many schools, especially those in rural and underserved communities, still completely lack basic security infrastructure like perimeter fencing, surveillance systems, and reliable emergency communication tools.
In a bid to shift from reactive measures to proactive prevention, the House adopted a two-pronged resolution aimed at creating strict national oversight:
-The House urged the Federal Ministry of Education to immediately establish nationwide minimum security standards. These will legally mandate all public schools to implement strict access control measures, emergency preparedness plans, routine security audits, and community-led defense mechanisms.
-A joint legislative coalition—comprising the Committees on Basic Education, National Security and Intelligence, Defence, Police Affairs, and Interior—has been mandated to audit the billions allocated under the 2023–2026 financing plan.
The joint committee has been given a strict four-week deadline to investigate how previously appropriated funds were utilized and to deliver concrete recommendations to fix the gaps in the nation’s rapid-response apparatus.
In a separate legislative development during the same session, Hon. Abubakar Sarki Dahi presented a motion pressing the federal government to establish dedicated storage facilities for tubers and other agricultural produce in Agyaragu Town, located within the Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The motion emphasizes the urgent need to curb post-harvest losses and bolster food security by providing local farmers with modern preservation infrastructure.
