Federal Ministry of Education

By Uzair Adam

Some training centres implementing the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme in Kano and Jigawa states are grappling with delayed payments, mounting operational costs and unpaid trainer allowances, raising concerns about the sustainability of the programme.

The Daily Reality gathered that the situation has left some centre operators struggling to meet their financial obligations, while trainers engaged to teach beneficiaries say they have gone for months without receiving their allowances.

There are also concerns over equipment promised to beneficiaries after training, with some graduates saying they completed their programmes without receiving the tools expected to help them establish businesses or secure employment.

The TVET programme is designed to equip unemployed Nigerians and others without sustainable employment with practical skills that can improve their chances of earning a livelihood. Beneficiaries are also expected to receive nationally recognised certificates and, in some cases, equipment packages after completing their training.

With more than 2,300 centres engaged nationwide after passing quality assurance processes, the programme covers more than 36 skills. 

But a growing dispute over payments, particularly the application of a 65 per cent attendance requirement, is now threatening to undermine its implementation in some centres.

Payment Dispute Threatens Training

At the centre of the dispute is a payment condition requiring beneficiaries to attain at least 65 per cent monthly attendance before centres can receive payment.

Participating centre operators argue that the condition conflicts with what they understood to be the payment arrangement in their agreements with the government, which they said was based on the number of verified trainees and agreed programme milestones.

They also object to what they described as the retrospective application of the attendance condition, arguing that it should not be imposed on agreements already entered into.

The operators said they support biometric attendance monitoring and other measures to ensure accountability, but questioned why centres should bear the financial consequences when some trainees fail to attend classes regularly.

One centre owner, who asked to remain anonymous, described the new payment arrangement as an attempt to frustrate training centres.

He stated that, “The new system is to defeat the centres. Instead of the agreement that they would pay centres based on the number of students, now they said no. 

“They did not revise the MoU, and they did not contact anyone. They just decided on their own on that 65 per cent,” he added.

According to him, the government was responsible for recruiting the beneficiaries, leaving centre operators with limited control over whether some of those trainees would remain committed to the programme.

He added, “They recruited the students themselves and they happened to lack interest in the programme.”

The centre owner argued that linking payments to attendance could leave operators financing training for beneficiaries whose recruitment and commitment were largely outside their control.

Centre Owners Count the Cost

Beyond the payment dispute, centre operators said they have continued to incur substantial expenses to keep their facilities running.

They are responsible for paying instructors, maintaining facilities and purchasing training materials while waiting for government payments.

One operator said a centre he knew received only N50,000 last month despite spending more than N300,000 on programme-related expenses.

He said his own centre had invested more than N10 million and expected to receive at least N15 million for the first month, but was paid only N3 million.

The disparity, he argued, makes it increasingly difficult for private operators to sustain the programme.

Another centre owner, Jamil Muhammad, not his real name, said operators could not continue financing government programmes indefinitely from their personal resources.

He stated that, “We cannot continue to finance the programme indefinitely while waiting for payments.”

For trainers, the financial pressure has also become a major concern.

Muhammad Kabir, not his real name, a trainer at one of the centres in Kano, said he had worked for almost three months without receiving his allowance.

He said the delay had affected the morale of trainers who depend on the payments to meet their personal and professional obligations.

Fear of Another Unresolved Government Programme

The payment difficulties have also raised fears among some operators that the TVET programme could eventually suffer the fate of previous government initiatives.

One centre owner said the programme might end without the government settling outstanding financial obligations to participating centres.

He cited N-Power and N-Skills under the previous administration, alleging that unresolved payment issues from those programmes remain a burden between operators and government.

He decried that, “We don’t want TVET to end the way N-Power and N-Skills ended. There are still backlogs with the government from those programmes.”

Our reporter gathered that for operators who have invested heavily in facilities, equipment and personnel, the concern goes beyond delayed payments. 

They fear that prolonged financial uncertainty could force some centres to withdraw from the programme before beneficiaries complete their training.

Centres Seek Government Intervention

Centre operators have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, to intervene in the payment dispute.

Their demands include settling outstanding payments, reviewing the 65 per cent attendance condition, and deciding that any new payment arrangement should apply prospectively rather than retrospectively.

They also want a mechanism to replace beneficiaries who stop attending classes, withdraw from the programme, or fail to meet attendance requirements.

The operators maintain that such a system would protect public funds while preventing training centres from bearing the cost of beneficiaries who are no longer participating.

The dispute has already prompted some centres to threaten to suspend participation if the payment issues remain unresolved.

The Daily Reality recalls that the operators had previously raised concerns over the financial implications of the attendance-based payment arrangement, warning that continued delays could make it difficult for centres to sustain their operations.

Graduates Left Without Promised Equipment

While centre operators struggle with payments, some beneficiaries are facing a different problem: completing their training without receiving the equipment they were promised.

Kabir Muhammad, another centre operator, alleged that beneficiaries from the first cohort were promised equipment after completing their training, but some graduated months earlier without receiving anything.

He further alleged that beneficiaries in the second cohort were told they would receive equipment before or around the time of their training, but some were already several months into the programme without receiving the promised package.

For beneficiaries, the equipment is not simply an additional benefit. It is expected to provide the means to apply the skills acquired during training and, potentially, begin earning an income.

Aisha Muhammad, not her real name, a graduate of the first cohort, said she completed her training but received no equipment afterwards.

“After we graduated, nothing was given to us,” she said.

The absence of the equipment has raised questions about what happens to beneficiaries after they receive training and certificates if they lack the basic tools needed to put their newly acquired skills into practice.

Financial Burden Extends Beyond Payments

The financial burden on centres extends beyond delayed government disbursements.

Operators are expected to maintain suitable training facilities, engage instructors and provide the materials required for practical sessions. 

Private centres, in particular, also face expenses such as rent, salaries, electricity, fuel and general maintenance.

An advocacy brief reviewed during the investigation also raised concerns about the pressure created by attendance-based payments. 

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It cited a Kano centre with 40 learners that received N50,000 for July, a figure the document said was insufficient to cover the centre’s operational expenses.

The centre operators argue that payment mechanisms must account for costs already incurred in delivering the training, rather than placing the entire financial burden on providers.

They said the government’s monitoring system should distinguish between centres failing to deliver training and centres that have fulfilled their responsibilities but are affected by beneficiary attendance.

Experts Question Sustainability

Education and skills development experts said the payment problems could affect centres’ ability to retain qualified trainers and maintain the facilities required for effective practical training.

Dr Abdussalam Muhammad Kani, Director, Career Services Centre, Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso-Kano, said delayed payments could affect facilitator retention and centres’ ability to meet running costs.

He noted that training centres require money for facilitators, maintenance, fuel and instructional materials, stressing that prolonged delays could undermine programme delivery.

Dr Kani called for dedicated funding and a clear budgetary provision for the programme, alongside stronger monitoring, reporting and assessment mechanisms.

Sulaiman Dandago, a lecturer at Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies (AKCILS), said the programme’s success depends largely on clear implementation arrangements, adequate facilities, and the availability of qualified instructors.

He said centres must be equipped according to the number of trainees enrolled, while private providers must also cover expenses such as rent and staff salaries.

Dandago warned that failure to pay participating centres and trainers could demoralise those responsible for delivering the programme.

“If the Federal Ministry of Education fails to pay dues, how can the programme attain its objectives?” he asked.

The concerns come at a critical stage for a programme intended to provide practical skills to thousands of Nigerians and improve their chances of becoming economically productive.

For beneficiaries, however, the initiative’s success will not be measured by training alone. It will also depend on whether centres can remain operational, trainers are paid, certificates are delivered and graduates receive the tools promised to help them turn acquired skills into livelihoods.

The payment dispute therefore raises a broader question about the programme’s sustainability: whether the government can maintain a system capable of supporting training centres throughout the process, from recruitment and instruction to certification and post-training assistance.

All efforts to obtain the Federal Ministry of Education’s response to the concerns raised by the centre operators proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.

By Bilyamin Abdulmumin, PhD

No one takes up the title of Dr for head like the famous praise singer Dauda Kahutu Rarara. His predicament began when a university under the aegis of the European-American University conferred on him an honorary doctorate. When the university was later discovered to be a mushroom, given how he had initially taken the title with glamour and pageantry, Rarara received ridicule for his life. 

Perhaps Rarara’s fanfare and grandeur in celebrating the honour stem from mockery over his lack of formal education; as a result, mockers say he doesn’t understand English. Rarara, floating the Dr title would have been a slap to the face of these mockers.

The award of an honorary doctorate was initially given to figures who excel in their field of endeavour and thus render landmark service to their community.  For example, honorary doctorates for Mamman Shata, Ibrahim Babangida, and Aliko Dangote. However, some universities are now believed to resort to awarding the honorary title quid pro quo. Therefore, the recent Federal government order to bar the indiscriminate use of the Dr title is seen as long overdue. 

A doctor is simply referring to someone qualified to teach at the highest level. But a blurred line existed between doctors of medicine and a doctor of philosophy.  Because when “doctor” is mentioned, given our culture of genericising brand names, we subconsciously think of medicine. This is why every toothpaste is a Close-Up, every milk is a Peak, chocolate Milo, seasoning cubes Maggi, instant noodles Indomie, washing detergent Omo or Clean, bleach Hypo, and every antiseptic liquid Dettol. Therefore, after the federal government succeeded to stop abusing Dr title, they had many more disputes to settle. Including clearing this genericization ambiguity. 

Another order that Professor Suwaiba Ahmad has to issue concerns herbal practitioners. The herbalists called themselves doctors, and society also addressed them as such. As traditionalists, perhaps the federal government should order them to stick with the traditional names they are known by:  Mallam (Hausa), Oníṣègùn (Yoruba), Ọnyọ́gwọ́ (Igbo), Oma-oyi (Idoma), Vingir (Tiv), Oboh (Igala), Amawato (Ijaw), Malam (Hausa & Kanuri), and Gandoowo (Fulfulde).

There is also abuse of the title Dr. among Nigerian students. A year-one medical student or a PhD calls themselves a doctor. When do these under-breastfeeding qualify to train others?  The minister needs to issue a warning order.

The most hilarious part is when remedial or matric students are addressed as doctors. Students in this category who intend to study MBBS address themselves as “Dr.” As a matter of urgency, the Honourable Minister should issue a stern warning against this misuse of the professional title “Doctor.”

Titles are held with high regard in Africa. It appears that the longer the titles, the more important the person. In this regard, the former presidents of Gambia and Uganda stand out. Yahya Jameh is addressed as Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, Babili Mansa (Conqueror of Rivers” in Mandinka), His Excellency, Master of the River Gambia, Lord of the Animals and Birds of the River Gambia, President of the Republic of the Gambia, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. 

Idi Amin’s title is much more glamorous: His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular. 

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The Federal Government of Nigeria has barred recipients of honorary degrees from using the “Dr.” prefix in official and professional settings, warning that violations could amount to academic fraud.

Announcing the decision after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, Education Minister Tunji Alausa said the move is aimed at curbing the abuse and politicisation of academic titles.

Mr Alausa further clarified that only holders of earned doctorates or qualified medical professionals may use the title, while honorary awardees must instead adopt post-nominal forms such as D.Sc. (Honoris Causa).

The National Universities Commission has also introduced stricter rules, limiting institutions to three honorary awards per convocation, requiring prior approval, and banning awards to serving public officials.

The reforms follow an investigation that uncovered 32 illegal “degree mills” selling fake titles, as authorities seek to restore credibility to Nigeria’s academic system.

By Tijjani Usman Dalhatu

The recent announcement that Mathematics will no longer be compulsory for admission into Arts and Humanities programs in Nigerian universities has generated both relief and concern. While it may appear to remove a long-standing obstacle for many students, it also raises a deeper philosophical question about the role of Mathematics in shaping thought itself.

Mathematics is far more than a subject in the school curriculum; it is a philosophy of reasoning, structure, and truth. It disciplines the mind to detect order in complexity, to question assumptions, and to think with clarity. It is the silent philosopher that underlies all genuine understanding, whether in the sciences, the arts, or the humanities.

History is rich with thinkers who embodied this union of logic and imagination. Bertrand Russell, both philosopher and mathematician, sought truth through reason and ethics. G. H. Hardy regarded pure mathematics as a creative art, not just an academic pursuit. Lewis Carroll, a mathematician, used logic and paradox to craft timeless literary classics. And Omar Khayyam, celebrated as a poet of destiny, was first a master of algebra and astronomy.

Their lives remind us that the boundaries we draw between science and the humanities are artificial. Every discipline, whether it studies numbers or narratives, still depends on logic, pattern, and evidence. Even the modern historian employs statistics to interpret migration, the linguist applies probability to syntax, and the sociologist uses data to understand society.

Removing Mathematics from the foundation of Arts education risks cultivating thinkers who may feel deeply but reason shallowly. They may be fluent in expression yet uncertain in structure. In an age governed by data, where information is quantified and measured, even the humanities must remain numerate to stay relevant.

Mathematics sharpens the intellect not by teaching us to count, but by training us to think precisely. One may exclude it from certificates, but never from the mind.

For to reason is to calculate, and to imagine is to measure the infinite.

Tijjani Usman Dalhatu is a lecturer and researcher in Chemistry Education at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. He can be reached via tijjani.usman@futminna.edu.ng.

By Muhammad Abubakar

The Federal Government has announced a major review of admission requirements into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, declaring that Mathematics will no longer be a compulsory subject for candidates seeking admission into Arts and Humanities programmes.

The new policy, unveiled by the Federal Ministry of Education, forms part of a broader revision of the National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria. According to the guidelines, Mathematics remains mandatory only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses, while English Language continues to be compulsory for all programmes.

Under the revised rules, candidates seeking university admission must still obtain a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English. For polytechnic admission at the National Diploma (ND) level, four credits are required, while five credits, including Mathematics and English, remain mandatory for the Higher National Diploma (HND).

Similarly, in Colleges of Education, English Language is compulsory for Arts and Social Science students, while Mathematics is required for Science, Technical, and Vocational programmes.

The government explained that the reform aims to make tertiary education more inclusive and accessible, reducing unnecessary barriers that have prevented thousands of qualified candidates from securing admission. Officials project that the new policy could enable an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students to gain admission annually.

Education stakeholders have welcomed the move as a progressive step towards aligning Nigeria’s education system with global best practices, though some have called for careful implementation to maintain academic standards.

By Anwar Usman

The North West Development Commission (NWDC) has reversed its decision and announced cancelling its foreign scholarship application scheme. This is in compliance with the Federal Government’s recent directive to prioritise local education and promote indigenous capacity development.

This development follows a policy announcement made by the Federal Ministry of Education on May 7, 2025, reiterating a shift in focus towards reinvigorating Nigeria’s local educational institutions.

The statement, signed by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Boriowo Folasade, highlighted the need to invest in homegrown talent and infrastructure rather than sending students abroad.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the NWDC reiterated its commitment to aligning its programs and initiatives with the Federal Government’s policies and priorities.

The statement reads, “This decision is in line with the new directive by the Federal Government, aimed at building local capacity and enhancing the quality of education within Nigeria,” the Commission stated.

The NWDC added that it would provide further updates on new opportunities and educational programs designed to support the development of the North West region in line with the new national educational outlook.

The cancellation marks a significant policy shift in the region’s educational strategy. It is expected to redirect resources towards improving local institutions, providing scholarships for domestic education, and creating skill development initiatives tailored to regional needs.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said that they are aware of the strange illness that ravaged a secondary school in Delta State.

NCDC broke its long overdue silence in a Facebook post on Saturday, July 23, 2022.

The center said :”The NCDC is aware of an unknown illness reported among secondary school children in Delta State.

“We are in touch with the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria and Delta State Ministry of Health to investigate and respond accordingly.

We will communicate with Nigerians as the situation evolves.”

Ten students of the econdary school in were reportedly hospitalized over a seizure-like illness. One of the affected students has been reported dead since then.

The affected school has been shutdown indefinitely.