The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) is notifying successful applicants for Phase 3 of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI), even as previous participants complain they completed training without receiving support.
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In Facebook posts, people identifying themselves as Phase 2 beneficiaries described unpaid stipends, partial payments and uncertainty over equipment. One commenter from Katsina State said they had not received “a single kobo”. Another claimed some trainees received ₦10,000 while others got nothing. Meanwhile, under select programmes, some candidates have received up to ₦30,000.
A participant who said they joined the Graduate Coaching Scheme (GCS) Phase II in Nasarawa State alleged that trainees were not paid. The participant said representatives approached the state coordinator and were told the programme had not been included in the previous year’s budget.
Other commenters called the initiative a “waste of time” and questioned why recruitment continued while earlier participants were still waiting. One alleged that places went to officials’ relatives and friends, but provided no evidence. Another asked whether trainees would receive equipment after training.
The complaints echo funding concerns acknowledged by the NDE. Director-General Silas Agara said 33,692 Nigerians were trained under Phase II, but 4,651 still had outstanding stipends. He said resettlement packages were delayed because the 2025 capital budget had not been released.
Despite these unresolved obligations, the agency proceeded with Phase III, targeting 26,961 unemployed Nigerians for training in 70 skill areas. More than 200,000 applications were reportedly received nationwide.
The Facebook accounts do not prove the programme is fraudulent or that every participant went unpaid. However, they show frustration among some former trainees and raise questions about payment timelines, equipment support and public confidence as a new batch is selected.
What selected applicants should do
Applicants who received a selection email should keep it and check their inbox and spam folder for updates. The message says the NDE office in their state of residence will contact them shortly with further details. They should await that contact, verify instructions through official NDE channels and avoid paying anyone who promises to secure a place or speed up processing.
Youths interested in applying for the programme can visit https://www.nderegistrationportal.ng/.
