The Federal Government has reaffirmed that tuition and approved fees in all Federal Technical Colleges across the country remain free, cautioning principals and administrators against imposing unauthorized charges on students. 

It also reaffirmed its commitment to making technical education accessible to all Nigerian children by fully funding all FTC nationwide. 

In a statement issued on Wednesday and released via the Ministry of Education‘s X handle on Thursday, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the government bears the full cost of tuition to guarantee equal access to technical education. 

He stressed that no administrator is permitted to demand extra payments from parents or guardians, adding that circulars have been dispatched to all schools to reinforce the directive. 

According to him, the government covers approved 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 email at [email protected],” the statement read. 

Alausa, however, clarified that while tuition and other core costs are fully covered, students in boarding schools are still expected to provide some 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 as a pathway to 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 address infractions swiftly, while urging stakeholders to help safeguard the free-education policy and ensure Federal Technical Colleges achieve their mission of producing skilled graduates for national transformation. 

The statement stated that a list of personal items required from boarding students includes white bed sheets, pillowcases, cutlasses, hoes, rain boots, buckets, bathing soap, and basic toiletries. 

The ministry also stated that students are expected to present one ream of A4 paper for registration.