The Federal Government has committed to making technical education accessible to all Nigerian children by fully funding every Federal Technical College nationwide.
According to Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, “Tuition is completely free, and the government also covers approved charges including boarding, uniforms, textbooks, exercise books, prospectus, ID cards, stationery, clubs and societies, medical, vocational, utilities, security, website/e-result, Skool Media, extra lessons, and insurance.”
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, emphasized that the government bears the full cost of tuition to guarantee equal access.
“No Nigerian child should be denied access to technical education because of illegal charges. By investing in education today, we are building a stronger, self-reliant Nigeria,” Dr. Alausa affirmed.
He warned that no principal or administrator is permitted to demand unauthorized payments from parents or guardians and directed that circulars reinforcing this policy be sent to all schools and parents.
Parents are urged to report any illegal demands to the Ministry of Education via hotline numbers 0803 657 6733, 0803 637 3796, or email: [email protected].
While tuition and core expenses are fully covered, students who board at FTCs are expected to provide their personal items, including bedding, towels, toiletries, and personal clothing. Boarding students must also provide registration items such as a ream of A4 paper and cleaning materials.
The Ministry confirmed that monitoring mechanisms are in place to address any infractions swiftly. Stakeholders are urged to safeguard the free-education policy and ensure Federal Technical Colleges fulfil their mandate of producing skilled graduates for national transformation.
The government has also introduced a monthly stipend for technical college students to reduce financial barriers and stimulate enrolment.
According to Dr. Mohammed Mohammed, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, recent data shows a sharp rise in applicants for TVET entrance examinations, increasing from 7,547 in 2024 to 30,000 in 2025.
Students enrolled in the programme now receive dual certification upon completion: the traditional National Technical or Business Certificate and the competency-based National Skills Qualification. The TVET curriculum prioritizes hands-on learning, with 80% practical training and only 20% theory.
Within the first week of opening the application portal, over 90,000 applications were received. Additionally, more than one million Nigerians have enrolled in the federal government’s Masters 6 and 12 TVET programmes.
