The federal government has budgeted N15 billion to fund the implementation of Financing Safe Schools for 2023.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, August 9, the national coordinator on Safe Schools Initiative, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Halima Illiya Ibrahim, disclosed the information.
Illiya stated that the initiative aimed to ensure that children affected by conflicts and insecurity continue their education unhindered, charting a way forward in addressing attacks on education.
She noted that to achieve progress in achieving the various commitments to protect schools and children from further attacks, the immediate past Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, approved the setting up of the Financing Safe Schools Secretariat/Unit for planning and coordinating Safe Schools activities in the ministry.
The coordinator added that a technical committee, which constituted critical agencies, ministries and security agencies, was responsible for developing a National Plan for Financing Safe Schools.
She said that in December 2022, the committee developed a plan, which was launched and will be implemented between 2023 – 2026 with a total investment size of N144.86 billion.
According to her, the plan proposes N32.58 billion in 2023, N36.98 billion in 2024, N37.15 billion in 2025 and N38.03 billion in 2026, respectively.
Illiya hinted that the plan is focusing on achieving the following;
a. Building and integrating security-resilient host communities in the protection of education.
b. Strengthen the defection, deference and response capabilities of the security agents.
c. Equipping the School security, response and coordination centres in Abuja and States.
d. Regular engagements and policy advocacy with the Nigeria public and key government officials on implementing the National Plan.
