By Oluwaseun Sonde
The Nigerian Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed has said that the Federal Government is planning with an emphasis on ensuring adequate budgetary allocation in order to create a safe learning environment for teaching, learning, and restoring confidence in the education system.
The Minister disclosed this at the High Level Summit for Castle on Safeguarding Our Schools: Protecting Our Children And Our Future, organised by the Emergency Coordination Centre in Abuja on Thursday, over Nigeria security challenges, which includes attacks on schools and other learning places that led to closure of schools in impacted and most at risk communities.
The Minister stated that Finance and Planning Ministry have drawn Committee with members from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including Federal Ministry of Education, the Military and other Security Agencies working to collate inputs from the relevant MDAs and to develop a National Plan for Financing Safe Schools.
"Consultations are currently underway with States, local governments and other critical agencies of government, and the Committee is also working to identify the most transparent, effective and accountable ways of mobilizing and deploying resources", the Minister said.
Ahmed noted that the goal is to develop a robust collaborative costed that prioritizes plan which would adopt the whole society approach to safe schools. "The National Plan will be implemented in phases starting with Most at Risk States, Local Governments and Schools Host Communities".
She pointed that the National Plan is expected to be launched before the end of the 3rd quarter of 2022, adding that it will clearly outline how Nigeria intends to protect her schools and other learning places. "so that our children can once again return to learning in a safer and more secured environment".
Ahmed further said that Nigerian Government has been keeping to its responsibility in creating a safer and more secure teaching, learning and living environment for her children, while taking several steps in this direction.
"As we are all aware, in 2014, as part of efforts to tackle these crises, the Federal Government launched the Safe School Initiative (SSI), focused on enabling children affected by conflict and insecurity to continue with their education unhindered.
"And on 31st December 2019, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari formally signed the Safe Schools Declaration Ratification Documents, signaling the country’s commitment to implementing the intergovernmental commitment in Nigeria.
"Last year, to further demonstrate the resolve of the government and people of Nigeria to address the serious challenges posed by conflicts and insecurity to safe schools, and in consultation with local and global stakeholders, we convened (in partnership with the Emergency Coordination Center.
"UNICEF and other stakeholders) a High Level Forum on Financing Safe Schools, culminating in a collective set of commitments reflected in the Abuja Compact In October 2021, Nigeria hosted Fourth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration", the Minister said.
Ahmed appreciated the organiser for hosting this high level summit, added that the incredible work undertaken by the Emergency Coordination Center over the past 8 months will undoubtedly prove invaluable working collectively to develop and fund integrated solutions to the issue of school safety in Nigeria.
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of Governors Forum, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said efforts were being deepened to empower teachers and provide a conducive learning environment for students all in a bid to curb the vices of insecurity.
The event which has in attendance the Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, the Representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, other members of the International Community, the Nigerian military, Chairman of the Governor Forum, the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, among others.
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