By Paul Joseph
Beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme have criticised the government over what they described as irregular and delayed stipend payments, with some questioning whether the initiative is delivering on its promise of helping Nigerians overcome economic hardship.
Beneficiaries from both Batch A and Batch B said they had remained committed to the programme but were yet to receive all allowances due to them despite participating in the training for months.
The latest complaints have centred on the July 2026 stipend for Cohort 2, with beneficiaries saying payments began this week but only a few trainees had received alerts while the majority were still waiting.
Some beneficiaries said the delays were particularly frustrating because they had participated in the programme and met the requirements for payment.
One beneficiary, Umar Sani Bunza, lamented on Facebook over what he described as inconsistencies in the handling of beneficiaries and available slots.
“Naso them go leave people under review give out slots to others self, person wey no apply go get,” he wrote.
Another beneficiary, Gifty Eme, criticised what she described as a gap between government promises and implementation.
“We never receive July stipend na starter pack una wan give. Always making mouthwatering promises without fulfillment,” she said in reaction to a recent government statement.
Jennifer Tuskany also expressed frustration online, writing: “Just July stipend for cohort 2 they can’t pay na start kits they fit pay? funny Nigeria.”
The complaints came as the Federal Government issued a TVET update on Friday, August 21, 2026, following a stakeholders’ meeting.
According to the update, trainees who met the 65 per cent training attendance requirement for July 2026 had received their stipends, while those who did not meet the threshold but attended training at least once had been processed for payment the following week.
The government also said training centres would begin receiving their payments once all necessary uploads had been completed.
The update further disclosed that the Quality Assurance Adviser (QAA) database had been cleaned up, allowing training centres to contact their assigned QAAs through their telephone numbers.
Training centres were also directed to upload timetables covering the entire programme, with up to three locations allowed to be programmed. Any changes to an already-uploaded timetable are expected to be communicated to the Programme Management Office (PMO).
The government said all awarding bodies had been onboarded onto the NABTEB portal and would begin contacting training centres, while centres were expected to maintain complete trainee folders, evidence of training, minutes of standardisation meetings and monthly reports.
The Federal Government said the list of Cohort 2 trainees eligible for starter kits would be shared, while the list of eligible Cohort 1 beneficiaries had already been collated and concluded.
The starter-kit announcement has, however, triggered fresh reactions from beneficiaries who say outstanding stipend payments should be resolved before attention shifts to starter kits.
The government also warned trainees against manipulating attendance records by signing in at training centres in the morning, leaving and returning only to sign out. It said information on such centres and trainees was being collated for appropriate sanctions.
Training Service Providers were equally directed to stop assessment malpractice, with the government revealing that a centre had already been warned and could be delisted for violating programme rules.
The authorities also stressed that QAAs must be properly engaged and must consent to their responsibilities.
While the government maintains that payments are being processed according to attendance and programme requirements, affected beneficiaries are calling for greater transparency and consistency in the payment system.
For many participants, the programme represents more than a training opportunity; the stipend is also expected to provide financial support during a period of economic pressure.
The continuing complaints over unpaid or delayed stipends have therefore raised concerns among beneficiaries about whether the TVET intervention is achieving its wider objective of equipping Nigerians with skills while providing timely support during the training period.
Beneficiaries are now urging the Federal Government and programme managers to resolve outstanding payments and provide clearer timelines for future stipend disbursements.
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