Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Trainees under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme at the Federal Polytechnic Daura, Katsina State, have voiced deep frustration over the prolonged delay in the payment of their training allowances and start-up grants by the Federal Ministry of Education, leaving many participants who invested personal funds throughout the six-month programme feeling abandoned and betrayed. The trainees, who spoke with The PUNCH in Kano on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, lamented that there had been no official explanation for the non-payment, despite repeated promises from programme officials that the outstanding stipends and grants would be disbursed upon completion of the training. The delays have cast a shadow over what was widely promoted as a transformative youth empowerment initiative, raising questions about the government's commitment to fulfilling its end of the bargain.
One of the aggrieved trainees, Abdullahi Mohammad, expressed the collective anguish of his colleagues, stating that the silence surrounding the unpaid allowances and grants had left many participants deeply frustrated, especially after they had spent their own money throughout the six-month training period. "They promised to give us allowances, a grant and certificate after graduation. But none of these was given to us," Mohammad said, his words capturing the sense of betrayal felt by many who had committed their time and resources based on the government's assurances. He further explained that the delay had prevented many beneficiaries from applying the practical skills they acquired during the programme, effectively stalling their dreams of economic independence. "If they had given us what they promised us (grants), after the training, our story would have been different by now because we would have gone far by now," he added, underscoring the lost opportunities that the unpaid grants represent.
Another trainee, Aisha Musa, shared her personal ordeal, revealing that she had spent a significant amount on transportation travelling between Malumfashi and Daura throughout the training period but had yet to receive any financial support to offset those costs. "I spent a lot of money on transportation during the training programme and yet there is nothing to show for it," Musa lamented, highlighting the financial strain that many participants endured while the government's promised stipends remained unpaid. Her experience is far from isolated; many trainees across the programme had to rely on personal savings or borrow from family and friends just to attend training sessions, all while trusting that the government would honour its commitment to provide a monthly stipend of ₦22,500 to cover transportation, feeding, and other training-related expenses.
The TVET programme, launched by the Federal Government as a flagship initiative under President Bola Tinubu's administration, was designed to equip young Nigerians with practical, job-ready skills while providing financial support to ease the burden of participation. Under the programme's "Master 6" track, participants were promised ₦180,000 in tuition support, a ₦22,500 monthly stipend for six months, and a National Skills Qualification certificate upon successful completion. Additionally, trainees were to receive starter packs, entrepreneurship training, and access to low-interest loans to help launch post-training ventures, making the programme a comprehensive intervention aimed at reducing unemployment and empowering Nigerian youths with practical skills. Katsina State secured 3,500 training slots under the federal programme, with the allocation hailed as a major boost for youth empowerment under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda's development agenda.
The trainees have called on the Federal Ministry of Education and the management of the TVET programme to fulfil the promises made to them, noting that many participants committed their time and resources based on those assurances. "We urge the management of Federal Polytechnic Daura, Katsina TVET Training Centre to provide a comprehensive update regarding the issues raised to ease tension and improve transparency," Mohammad added, reflecting the growing frustration among trainees who feel left in the dark. The concerns raised by the Katsina trainees are not isolated; they are part of a broader pattern of discontent among TVET participants across Nigeria. In May 2026, thousands of youths enrolled in the programme accused the government of abandoning them after failing to pay promised monthly stipends for five months, with some trainees warning that the continued non-payment threatened to undermine the credibility of the entire initiative.
Responding to the complaints, the Coordinator of the TVET programme at the Federal Polytechnic Daura Centre, Dr Aziz Fatai, said the grievances had been forwarded to the TVET management. He assured the trainees that the outstanding stipends would be paid soon, while the start-up grants would be released after the ongoing assessment of participants' folders and the certification process by the awarding body. "Payment to students has been processed. Payment is delayed due to efforts by the ministry to harmonise the biometric attendance activities of centres," he explained, offering the first official explanation for the holdup. However, for many trainees who have already completed their training and are waiting to launch their livelihoods, the assurance of "soon" offers little comfort.
The plight of the Katsina TVET trainees underscores a troubling disconnect between government promises and delivery, raising fundamental questions about the integrity of youth empowerment programmes and the accountability of those entrusted with their implementation. The programme was introduced as a major intervention aimed at reducing unemployment and empowering Nigerian youths with practical skills, but the continued non-payment of stipends and grants threatens to erode public trust and discourage young Nigerians from participating in similar initiatives in the future. As one trainee noted, the delay has prevented many beneficiaries from applying the practical skills they acquired, effectively trapping them in a state of limbo where their training cannot translate into economic opportunity. For Abdullahi Mohammad, Aisha Musa, and countless others, the wait for their allowances and grants is not just about money; it is about the promise of a better future that now seems increasingly out of reach.
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