ASUSS Hails FG’s Free TVET Programme For FSTC, Seeks Broad-Based Implementation, Teachers Welfare, and Sec.Sch. Intervention
The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Nigeria, has commended the Federal Government’s decision to make education completely free in all 33 Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTCs) across the country under the newly launched Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative.
Describing the move as “a bold step in the right direction,” ASUSS noted that the package—which includes free tuition, monthly stipends, free meals, accommodation, internationally recognized certifications, and guaranteed post-graduation support is capable of repositioning technical education in Nigeria and preparing a generation of self-reliant and globally competitive youth.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Ado Ekiti and signed by the National President of ASUSS, Comrade Sola Adigun the union expressed optimism that the initiative, launched under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, would help bridge the skills gap, reduce unemployment, and restore dignity to technical and vocational education in Nigeria.
“This initiative is highly commendable. It reflects a deliberate and strategic effort to equip young Nigerians with practical, industry-relevant skills, while also removing financial barriers to access. We view this as a long-overdue investment in the future of the country,” Comrade Adigun said.
However, ASUSS emphasised the need for complementary policies and robust implementation strategies to guarantee the programme’s success and sustainability.
Consequently, the union outlined the following recommendations:
1. Investing in Teachers: ASUSS urged the government to prioritise teacher training, retooling, and welfare, particularly for educators in science, technology, and vocational disciplines, noting that “no policy can thrive without empowered teachers.”
2. **Holistic Implementation of the 65/40 Retirement Policy:The union strongly called on the Federal Government to ensure full implementation of the approved 65 years of age or 40 years of service retirement policy for teachers across all States of the Federation. “This will help retain experienced educators, boost morale, and address the chronic shortage of qualified teaching personnel,” Adigun added.
3. Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement: ASUSS advocated for the active involvement of professional bodies, unions, and school-based personnel** in the planning, monitoring, and evaluation stages to ensure that the policy serves national interests and community realities.
4. Infrastructure Upgrade: The 33 FSTCs must be equipped with modern tools, functional laboratories, and digital infrastructure to deliver high-quality, hands-on instruction.
5. Equity and Accessibility: The union urged deliberate action to mobilise students from rural and underserved communities into the programme, noting that these are the primary targets of such an initiative.
6. Transparent Employment and Grant Schemes: ASUSS called for clear and accountable systems for managing the post-training support schemes, such as grants, enterprise loans, and job placements, free from favouritism and political influence.
7. Secondary School Vocational Focus: ASUSS also urged the Federal Government to extend similar interventions to the non-specialised secondary schools, especially at the senior secondary level, by introducing vocational skills development programmes, improved funding, and adequate tools for practical training. “A strong secondary school foundation will feed directly into the success of TVET at the tertiary level,” the Union noted.
ASUSS affirmed its readiness to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Education and relevant agencies to ensure the long-term success of the initiative. It also called for a national dialogue on scaling up technical and vocational education policies to all states and public institutions.
“Technical education is the future. If we get this right, we will have solved more than half of Nigeria’s youth unemployment crisis,” the statement concluded.
E-Signed:
*Comrade Sola Adigun*
*National President*
*Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Nigeria*