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| Tvet |
Hundreds of trainees enrolled in the Federal Government's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme at the Federal Polytechnic, Daura, Katsina State, have expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in the payment of their monthly training allowances and business starter grants.
The trainees, who enrolled under the Federal Ministry of Education's skills acquisition initiative, said the delay has created financial hardship, with many struggling to cover transportation and other basic expenses required to continue attending classes.
Several participants who spoke on condition of anonymity said they had joined the programme with the expectation of receiving the financial support promised by the government. According to them, while the training itself has continued, the non-payment of stipends has placed many beneficiaries under severe economic pressure.
One trainee explained that many participants come from low-income families and depend on the monthly allowance to commute to the training centre and meet daily needs. The trainee added that the delay has left many discouraged, even though they remain committed to completing the programme.
The trainees also lamented that they have yet to receive the starter grants expected to help them establish small businesses after completing their vocational training. They warned that any further delay could undermine the programme's objective of promoting self-reliance and reducing unemployment among Nigerian youths.
Some beneficiaries appealed to the Federal Ministry of Education to urgently address the situation by releasing the outstanding payments without further delay. They argued that the government's investment in vocational education would have greater impact if participants receive the support promised to them.
The TVET programme was introduced to equip young Nigerians with practical and technical skills in different trades, enabling them to become self-employed or secure better employment opportunities. In addition to classroom and practical training, participants were promised financial support in the form of monthly stipends and post-training business grants to ease their transition into entrepreneurship.
Despite the payment challenges, many trainees said they remain hopeful that the government will fulfil its commitments. They noted that the skills being acquired are valuable but stressed that timely payment of allowances would enable beneficiaries to complete the programme without unnecessary hardship.
The development has sparked concerns among participants who fear that prolonged delays could discourage youth participation in future vocational programmes designed to tackle unemployment and promote economic empowerment.
As of the time of filing this report, officials of the Federal Ministry of Education had not publicly responded to the complaints raised by the trainees regarding the delayed allowances and starter grants.