Technical and Vocational Education and Training TVET centres across Nigeria have begun implementing biometric attendance systems to monitor trainee participation nationwide. The new verification process is now directly connected to the disbursement of monthly stipends, meaning only trainees who successfully complete biometric verification will qualify for payment.
According to an official notice issued by one of the participating centres and obtained by Nigeria Startup News, trainees were informed that biometric attendance would formally begin on Monday. The notice explained that fingerprint capturing would take place on February 9, 2026, by 8:00am, and emphasized that attendance records would now determine eligibility for monthly stipends.
The centre further clarified that attendance tracking would no longer be optional, as failure to comply with the biometric process would affect stipend payments going forward.
TVET participants who fail to complete biometric capturing will automatically be treated as unregistered under the programme. As a result, such trainees will not be recognized as active beneficiaries and will be excluded from stipend payments.
The policy change has triggered mixed reactions among trainees. Some participants have expressed frustration, noting that they are still awaiting previously unpaid stipends. Others have raised concerns about the long distances they must travel daily to reach their assigned centres. In response to these complaints, the Federal Ministry of Education has reopened the portal for 2026 TVET centre registration, allowing more centres to be accredited and trainees posted closer to their locations.
This enforcement follows an earlier directive issued by the Federal Ministry of Education on January 8, 2026. In the communication sent to all accredited TVET centres, the ministry mandated the immediate purchase and use of biometric attendance devices as a compulsory requirement for participation in the programme.
Training centres have also been supplied with approved software applications designed specifically for use with the biometric devices to ensure uniform data collection nationwide.
Under the new directive, all centres must begin daily biometric attendance tracking without delay. Centres that fail to comply risk being removed from the programme, while their trainees may be reassigned to compliant centres. Additionally, any trainee whose biometric data is not captured will be disqualified from receiving the ₦22,500 monthly stipend.
How to Apply or Register for TVET Programmes
Interested applicants and training centres can complete registration and access official updates through the Federal Government TVET portal https://www.tvet.education.gov.ng