The Federal Government has established the Safe Schools Department within the Federal Ministry of Education as part of renewed efforts to strengthen the protection of learners and improve security in schools across the country.
The Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this when he appeared before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Safe Schools Initiative, saying the new department would provide stronger institutional leadership and coordination for school safety programmes nationwide.
Alausa said the department replaces the former Safe Schools Unit and would be responsible for strategic leadership, coordination and oversight of school safety initiatives across Nigeria.
‘The Federal Ministry of Education has established a full-fledged Safe Schools Department to provide strategic leadership, coordination and oversight of school safety programmes nationwide,’ the minister said.
He explained that the ministry would coordinate the Safe Schools Initiative through a unified national framework designed to improve implementation, accountability and monitoring across the country’s 774 local government areas.
According to him, the ministry is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services, Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other relevant agencies to strengthen protection around schools.
Alausa stressed that school safety could no longer be approached in a fragmented manner, given the multiple security and welfare challenges confronting learners.
‘While our security agencies will continue to perform their constitutional responsibilities, the Federal Ministry of Education will provide policy direction, coordinate implementation with states and ensure that every school benefits from the programme,’ he said.
On funds allocated to the Safe Schools Initiative, Alausa said some grants and appropriated funds under review were disbursed before his appointment and administered at the time by the Federal Ministry of Finance.