The Federal Government has disclosed that the sum of N15 billion in the 2023 budget has been set aside to secure school children sequel to violent attacks and kidnapping of school children in various parts of the country.
The outgoing Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed made this known on Monday in Abuja, at the training of safe school administrators.
She noted that to ensure the security of the children who are still in school, urgent steps have to be taken so as not to swell the N20 million children already out of school.
Ahmed, who was represented by Hajiya Halima, added that the ministry has made a commitment of N15 billion in 2023 and has authorized agencies to release funds to that effect.
Commandant-General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, while declaring the workshop open, said that an estimated 75 per cent (according to the UNDP) of children are in Internally-Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps without access to learning.
The National Safe School Plan being financed by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning rolled out strategies for implementation, assigning the NSCDC the role of the lead agency.
This decision was taken cognisance of the lead role of the Corps in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure inclusive of schools/educational institutions.
Meanwhile, the centre was flagged-off at the headquarters of the NSCDC on February, 13, 2023 by the Finance Minister. The flag-off signalled the commencement of implementation of the Safe School Programme.
