The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has directed polytechnics and allied institutions across Nigeria not to charge students more than ₦15,000 for the Mandatory Skills Qualification (MSQ) introduced under the revised National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) curricula.
The directive means that any additional fee specifically charged for MSQ training, assessment and certification must not exceed ₦15,000 per student.
NBTE also directed institutions to avoid introducing other charges that duplicate costs already covered by students’ regular tuition and approved institutional fees.
NBTE MSQ Fee at a Glance
| Item | NBTE Directive |
|---|---|
| Maximum MSQ charge | ₦15,000 per student |
| Students affected | ND and HND students under the revised curricula |
| How often should it be charged? | Once within the two-year programme |
| Preferred payment period | Final year |
| Main purpose of the fee | Assessment and certification |
| QAA Unit 1 fee for eligible HND students | ₦12,000 |
| QAA Unit 1 tuition | Free online training |
What Is the Mandatory Skills Qualification?
The Mandatory Skills Qualification, commonly referred to as MSQ, is a component of the revised ND and HND curricula.
It is intended to give polytechnic students practical occupational skills alongside their normal academic training.
Students completing the programme can therefore earn skills certification in addition to their academic qualification.
According to NBTE, the system is meant to strengthen students’ practical competence and improve their readiness for employment and self-employment.
Polytechnics Cannot Charge More Than ₦15,000 for MSQ
The most important part of the new directive for students is the ₦15,000 fee ceiling.
NBTE explained that students already pay tuition and other approved institutional charges covering substantial parts of their education.
As a result, any additional amount collected specifically for the Mandatory Skills Qualification should not exceed ₦15,000 per student.
The fee is intended mainly to cover assessment and certification by approved Awarding Bodies.
This means a polytechnic should not describe the ₦15,000 as the starting point and then add separate MSQ-related charges that duplicate expenses students have already paid for through tuition or other approved fees.
Students Should Normally Pay the MSQ Fee Only Once
NBTE also clarified that the assessment and certification fee should be collected only once during the two-year ND or HND programme.
The Board said the charge should preferably be collected in the student’s final year.
Therefore, students should pay attention to how their institutions structure MSQ charges.
A student should not automatically be required to pay a fresh ₦15,000 MSQ fee every session simply because ₦15,000 is the maximum amount allowed.
The directive sets a ceiling of ₦15,000 and states that the assessment and certification charge should be applied once within the programme.
Schools Must Use Existing Facilities for the Training
NBTE has also told polytechnics and allied institutions to make maximum use of facilities they already have.
These include:
- Skills Development Centres
- Entrepreneurship Development Centres
- Workshops
- Laboratories
- Equipment already available within the institution
Schools are expected to introduce the programme in phases, starting with departments where the facilities required for the relevant skills are already available.
Where a school does not have facilities for a particular trade or skill, it may make arrangements with suitable workplaces where students can receive the required training.
This is important because NBTE’s directive is designed to prevent institutions from transferring unnecessary implementation costs to students.
Special ₦12,000 Fee for Some HND Students
There is also a separate arrangement for certain HND students.
HND students who already obtained a National Skills Qualification (NSQ) during their ND programme may progress to a higher-level NSQ.
Where applicable, they can instead undertake the Quality Assurance Assessor (QAA) Unit 1 programme as their HND Mandatory Skills Qualification.
NBTE says QAA Unit 1 is a four-credit-unit course taught over two semesters in the final year.
The training itself is available online without a tuition fee.
However, eligible students are required to pay an approved ₦12,000 assessment and certification fee.
The arrangement applies specifically to eligible HND students.
What the NBTE Directive Means for ND and HND Students
For students, the directive provides a clear benchmark for checking MSQ charges on school fee schedules.
If your institution introduces a fee specifically labelled as:
- Mandatory Skills Qualification fee
- MSQ fee
- Skills assessment fee
- MSQ assessment and certification fee
the total charge specifically connected to the MSQ should not exceed the ₦15,000 ceiling announced by NBTE.
However, the ₦15,000 limit does not mean that every student must necessarily pay exactly ₦15,000. It is a maximum amount institutions are permitted to charge specifically for the programme.
Students should also distinguish the MSQ fee from their normal tuition, registration, accommodation and other legitimately approved institutional charges.
What If Your School Charges More Than ₦15,000?
Students who receive a payment schedule containing an MSQ charge above ₦15,000 should first confirm exactly what the additional amount covers.
Some charges on a school bill may be unrelated to the Mandatory Skills Qualification.
However, where an institution specifically charges more than ₦15,000 for MSQ or splits the same MSQ cost into several additional compulsory payments, students can request clarification from the school’s bursary or management.
The NBTE directive specifically asks institutions to maintain transparency and avoid charges that duplicate expenses already covered by tuition or other institutional fees.
Students should keep copies or screenshots of official payment schedules and receipts where necessary.
Does the ₦15,000 Replace Polytechnic School Fees?
No.
The ₦15,000 is not the total school fee for ND or HND students.
It is the maximum additional amount NBTE permits institutions to charge specifically for the Mandatory Skills Qualification.
Students will still be responsible for their institution’s approved tuition and other legitimate school charges.
When Does the ₦15,000 MSQ Fee Take Effect?
NBTE announced the directive in a circular dated 28 September 2026, addressed to Rectors and Provosts of polytechnics and allied institutions.
It applies to the implementation of the Mandatory Skills Qualification under the newly reviewed ND and HND curricula.
Institutions are expected to comply with the fee ceiling and clearly communicate the approved charge to affected students.
Key Takeaway
NBTE has capped the Mandatory Skills Qualification charge at ₦15,000 for ND and HND students in Nigerian polytechnics and allied institutions.
The charge should primarily cover skills assessment and certification, should normally be collected only once during the two-year programme, and should preferably be charged in the final year.
Eligible HND students taking the online QAA Unit 1 programme have a separate approved assessment and certification fee of ₦12,000, while the online training itself is tuition-free.
Students whose institutions demand more than the approved MSQ ceiling should check the breakdown carefully and seek clarification where necessary.