The Federal Ministry of Education has commenced the full enforcement of biometric attendance verification across all centres participating in the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Programme.
The enforcement, which took effect from February 1, 2026, makes biometric verification the sole approved method for validating attendance under the programme. The directive follows a circular issued in December 2025, which mandated all TVET training centres nationwide to procure and deploy biometric attendance systems for real-time monitoring.
According to the Ministry, all payments to training centres, as well as monthly stipends paid to trainees, will now be processed strictly based on verified biometric attendance records. Any training centre that fails to comply with the directive will not be eligible for payment, while affected trainees will also forfeit their monthly stipends.
The Ministry further warned that continued non-compliance by training centres could result in their removal from the TVET Programme, with trainees redeployed to centres that meet the required standards.
Students enrolled in the programme have also been advised to confirm that their respective training centres have fully complied with the biometric verification requirement to avoid disruptions to their stipends. Complaints and requests for assistance, the Ministry noted, can be submitted through the official TVET support platform available on the programme’s portal.
Reiterating its position, the Ministry described biometric attendance verification as mandatory and non-negotiable, stressing that the measure is designed to safeguard public funds and ensure that programme benefits reach their intended beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government said it remains open to onboarding new training centres interested in participating in the TVET Programme. Prospective centres are required to obtain accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), with applications to be completed through the NBTE TVET portal.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the integrity of the TVET Programme and ensuring that public resources are deployed transparently, responsibly, and efficiently to empower Nigerian youth and support national development.
