By Damilare Aré, JKNewsMedia Intern
THE NIGERIAN Government has declared that technical education is now tuition-free in all Federal Technical Colleges across the country.
The government confirmed that the policy will extend to approved charges including boarding fees, uniforms, textbooks, exercise books, prospectus, identity cards, stationery, clubs and societies, medical services, vocational charges, utilities, security, website/e-result, Skool Media, extra lessons, and insurance.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced the policy in Abuja, stating that the federal government will bear the full cost of tuition and associated fees to guarantee equal access.
He stressed that no principal or administrator is permitted to demand unauthorised payments from parents or guardians.
Alausa directed that circulars reinforcing the policy be issued to all Federal Technical Colleges and parents nationwide.
He also urged parents to report any cases of illegal demands directly to the Federal Ministry of Education via hotline numbers 0803 657 6733 and 0803 637 3796, or through the official email address tse@education.gov.ng.
The Minister clarified that while tuition and all listed charges are fully covered, students in boarding facilities are expected to provide their own personal items.
These include Sunday or Jumat wears, bathroom slippers, blankets, bedsheets, pillowcases, towels, underwears, one ream of A4 paper (80 grams) for registration, and other personal effects and cleaning materials.
According to Alausa, the initiative reflects President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a pathway to national human capital development.
He said the government seeks to equip young Nigerians with employable skills that will strengthen economic progress and competitiveness.
“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,” Alausa said.
The Ministry of Education confirmed that monitoring mechanisms are in place to detect and address infractions swiftly.
The Minister emphasised that stakeholders must safeguard the free-education policy to ensure that Federal Technical Colleges deliver on their mandate of producing skilled graduates for national transformation.
A statement issued late Wednesday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, reiterated the warning that principals and administrators are prohibited from imposing unauthorised charges.
The statement further urged parents and guardians to make use of the provided hotline numbers and email to report any violations immediately.
The Ministry maintained that the full implementation of the free-education policy marks a significant step in advancing technical education across the federation.
It reaffirmed that the government is committed to eliminating financial barriers that may prevent children from accessing technical and vocational training in its colleges.
