The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Nigeria, has lauded the federal government’s decision to implement free education in 33 Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTCs), beginning in August 2025.
In a statement issued on Monday, ASUSS President, Comrade Sola Adigun, described the move as a bold and commendable step toward revitalising technical education in the country.
The free education initiative, introduced under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, offers free tuition, monthly stipends, free meals, accommodation, internationally recognised certifications, and guaranteed post-graduation support.
Adigun noted that the policy, launched under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, has the potential to bridge Nigeria’s skills gap, reduce unemployment, and restore dignity to technical and vocational training, while equipping young Nigerians to become self-reliant and globally competitive.
According to him, 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, including investing in teachers, holistic implementation of the 65/40 retirement policy,
Inclusive stakeholder engagement, infrastructure upgrade, equity and accessibility, transparent employment and grant Schemes, secondary school vocational focus.
@The Nation