NIGERIA: Federal Government Enforces Strict Biometric Attendance In TVET Programme

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

In a major move to entrench transparency and accountability, the Federal Ministry of Education has begun full enforcement of biometric attendance verification across every centre participating in the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Programme.

The directive was made known in a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director, Press & Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, issued on Wednesday.

The policy, which took effect on 1 February 2026, follows a December 2025 circular that directed all TVET Training Centres to procure and install biometric attendance systems for real-time monitoring. The Ministry has now made it clear, biometric verification is the only approved method, of recording attendance under the programme.

From now on, payments to Training Centres and monthly stipends to trainees will be processed strictly on the basis of verified biometric records. Centres that fail to comply will receive no funding, while affected trainees will forfeit their stipends. Persistent non-compliance will lead to the centre’s removal from the programme, with trainees redeployed to compliant centres.

“The Ministry reiterates that biometric verification is mandatory and non-negotiable, as it safeguards public funds and ensures programme benefits reach intended beneficiaries,” the statement said.

The enforcement is part of broader efforts to strengthen the integrity of the TVET Programme and deliver real value to Nigerian youth.

Prospective institutions wishing to join the programme must first obtain accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and submit their application through the official NBTE TVET portal, the statement said.

The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment stating that “The Ministry remains committed to strengthening the integrity of the TVET Programme to empower Nigerian youth and drive national development.”

Trainees and centre operators have been urged to ensure full compliance to avoid any loss of entitlements. Updates and further guidelines are expected from the Ministry and NBTE i

n the coming days.