The Federal Ministry of Education has opened applications for the second cohort of its 2026 Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme, even as unresolved complaints from the first cohort over unpaid stipends and portal access failures continue to cast a shadow over the initiative's credibility.

The programme is designed to equip Nigerians with practical vocational and technical skills to improve employment prospects and support entrepreneurship. Applications are open to all Nigerians, including job seekers, school leavers, graduates and skilled individuals, with no strict educational requirements. Applicants are required to provide their Bank Verification Number and National Identification Number alongside basic personal information, while proof of prior education or training is optional.

Selected participants are expected to receive a monthly stipend of ₦22,500 in addition to free vocational training, recognised certification, starter packs and career support upon completion of the programme.

However, reactions on X have raised serious questions about whether the government can deliver on those promises. Users alleged that participants from the first cohort have not received stipends since January, with reports of inconsistent payments throughout the programme's earlier phase. "There are participants who have not been paid since January," one user stated, while others called for the immediate settlement of outstanding allowances before the next cohort is admitted. Additional complaints pointed to technical difficulties in accessing the registration portal, with some applicants unable to complete new applications.

The concerns arrive at an awkward moment for a government that has staked significant credibility on expanding access to vocational training as a solution to youth unemployment. Launching a second cohort while the first remains unpaid risks deepening public distrust and discouraging the very population the programme is designed to reach.