The Federal Government has reiterated that tuition and all approved fees in Federal Technical Colleges (FTCs) across Nigeria remain free, warning principals and administrators against imposing unauthorised charges on students.
It restated its commitment to making technical education accessible to every Nigerian child by fully funding all FTCs nationwide.
In a statement released on Wednesday and shared via the Ministry of Education’s X handle on Thursday, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the government bears the full cost of tuition to guarantee equal access to quality technical education.
He stressed that no school authority is allowed to demand additional payments from parents or guardians, adding that circulars have been dispatched to all colleges to reinforce the directive.
According to the minister, the government covers expenses such as boarding, uniforms, textbooks, exercise books, prospectuses, ID cards, stationery, clubs and societies, medical services, vocational training, utilities, security, websites/e-result, Skool Media, extra lessons, and insurance.
“Parents are urged to report illegal demands directly to the Ministry. Reports can be made via hotlines 0803 657 6733 and 0803 637 3796, or by email at [tse@education.gov.ng] the statement read.
Alausa clarified that while tuition and other core costs are fully covered, students in boarding schools are still expected to provide certain personal items such as toiletries, beddings, and clothing.
The initiative, he explained, is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a key driver of human capital development and national competitiveness.
“No Nigerian child should be denied access to technical education because of illegal charges. By investing in education, we are building a stronger, self-reliant Nigeria,” Alausa said.
He assured that monitoring mechanisms have been put in place to swiftly address violations, urging stakeholders to help safeguard the free-education policy and support Federal Technical Colleges in producing skilled graduates for national development.
The statement also listed personal items expected from boarding students, including white bed sheets, pillowcases, cutlasses, hoes, rain boots, buckets, bathing soap, and basic toiletries, along with one ream of A4 paper required for registration.
