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 step in the right direction, ASUSS noted that the package, which includes free tuition, monthly stipends, free meals, accommodation, internationally recognised certifications, and guaranteed post-graduation support, can reposition technical education in Nigeria.
The union, in a statement issued in Osogbo by the national president, Comrade Sola Adigun, expressed optimism that the initiative, launched under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, would help bridge the skills gap, reduce unemployment, and restore dignity to technical and vocational education in Nigeria.
ASUSS emphasised the need for complementary policies and robust implementation strategies to guarantee the programme’s success and sustainability.
The union urged the government to prioritise teacher training, retooling, and welfare, particularly for science, technology, and vocational educators, noting that “no policy can thrive without empowered teachers.”
They also called for the holistic implementation of the 65/40 retirement policy. They called for fully implementing the approved 65 years of age or 40 years of service retirement policy for teachers across all federation states.
ASUSS affirmed its readiness to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Education and relevant agencies to ensure the initiative’s long-term success and also called for a national dialogue on scaling up technical and vocational education policies to all states and public institutions.
