‘We Finished Months Ago, But Still Waiting’ — TVET Trainees Lament Delayed Stipends, Certificates As Phase Two Begins

More than a year after the Federal Government launched its flagship Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative to equip Nigerians with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship, concerns are mounting over delays in the payment of trainees’ stipends and the issuance of certificates.

The National TVET Programme was launched on May 30, 2025, as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to tackle youth unemployment through free vocational and technical skills training.

The initiative offers tuition-free training in areas including ICT, fashion design, agriculture, construction, renewable energy, automobile technology, and other skilled trades.

Beneficiaries are also entitled to monthly stipends, nationally recognised certificates, and starter packs upon completion.

Following the completion of the first phase, the Federal Government opened applications for the second cohort in April 2026.

Announcing the commencement of Phase Two, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the programme as a key pillar of the administration’s human capital development agenda, revealing that over 1.3 million Nigerians applied during the first phase.

“Today marks the opening of applications for the second cohort of our National TVET Programme. We are calling on every Nigerian with a dream and a hardworking spirit to sign up. With TVET, you can build your own future,” the minister said.

However, investigations by Kristina Reports in Abuja indicate that while Phase Two is underway, many participants from the first phase are still awaiting payment of their stipends and the issuance of their certificates.

Several trainees who spoke to Kristina Reports on condition of anonymity said the delays have left them frustrated despite successfully completing their training months ago.

One beneficiary said, “We finished our training months ago, but many of us are still waiting for our stipends and certificates. We keep hearing that the process is ongoing, but nothing has changed.”

Another trainee said the delayed stipends created financial hardship throughout the programme.

“The monthly stipend was meant to support our transportation and feeding while attending classes. The delays made it difficult for many of us to stay committed to the programme,” the trainee said.

A third participant questioned why a new phase had commenced while some first-phase beneficiaries were yet to receive their entitlements.

“Phase Two has already started, but some of us who completed Phase One are still waiting for our certificates, stipends, and starter packs. We hope the government will resolve these issues as soon as possible,” the trainee said.

Although the Federal Government announced in May that billions of naira had been disbursed to thousands of beneficiaries under the programme, some participants insist that a number of trainees are yet to receive their outstanding payments.

The affected trainees are calling on the Federal Ministry of Education to fast-track the payment of outstanding stipends, issue certificates to graduates, and distribute the promised starter packs to enable beneficiaries fully utilise the skills acquired through the programme.

Efforts by Kristina Reports to obtain official responses from the Federal Ministry of Education and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) on the alleged delays were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.