Thousands Of Nigerian Technical Programme TVET Trainees Lament Hunger As Tinubu Govt Stops Stipends For Five Months Without Explanation

Thousands of Nigerian youths enrolled in the Nigerian government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme have accused the President Bola Tinubu-led government of abandoning them after failing to pay their promised monthly stipends for five months. The affected trainees, under the banner of “Concerned TVET Trainees,” raised the alarm in a statement made available to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The affected trainees described the situation as a betrayal of trust and a major setback to young Nigerians struggling to acquire vocational skills. According to the trainees, the programme was introduced by the Nigerian government as a youth empowerment initiative designed to equip participants with vocational skills while providing a monthly stipend of N22,500 to support their transportation, feeding and other training-related expenses. The trainees said thousands of applicants across various states successfully enrolled in the programme after undergoing screening processes, believing the government would fulfill its promises. However, they lamented that despite consistently attending training sessions and complying with all programme requirements, they have not received any stipend payment since the programme commenced five months ago. “This failure has placed many participants in severe financial difficulty,” the statement read. “Most trainees depend on the stipend to cover transportation to training centres, feeding, and other basic expenses required to continue the training. “Some trainees now struggle daily to attend classes, while others are on the verge of dropping out due to the financial burden.” The trainees further expressed frustration over silence from officials managing the programme, alleging that repeated complaints and inquiries through training centres have produced no clear explanation or timeline for payment. “What makes the situation more concerning is that repeated inquiries made by trainees through their training centres and relevant officials have produced no clear explanation and no definite timeline for payment,” the statement added. “The silence from those responsible for managing the programme has left thousands of participants frustrated and feeling neglected.” The aggrieved trainees warned that the continued non-payment of the stipends threatens to undermine the credibility of the TVET initiative, which was widely promoted as a major intervention aimed at reducing unemployment and empowering Nigerian youths with practical skills. “We believe this issue deserves urgent public attention because the TVET programme was introduced as a major youth empowerment initiative,” the trainees stated. “When such promises are not honored, it erodes trust and discourages young Nigerians who are genuinely trying to acquire skills and improve their livelihoods.” The trainees called on relevant authorities to urgently intervene and ensure that all outstanding stipends are paid without further delay. “This programme has the potential to positively transform the lives of many Nigerian youths, but the continued non-payment of stipends for five months threatens to undermine its credibility and purpose,” the trainees noted. “We are calling for national attention to give voice to the many trainees currently suffering in silence.”