The study explored the perceptions of lecturers and students regarding the factors influencing attrition and low enrolment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes in Colleges of Education in North-Central Nigeria. The study was guided by two research questions and two null hypothesses. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was adopted, and the population comprised 128 lecturers and 401 NCE III students in TVET programmes across all the six Colleges of Education offering TVET programmes. A sample of 293 respondents, consisting of 97 lecturers and 196 students, was selected using purposive and stratified proportionate random sampling techniques. Data were collected using the structured Student Attrition and Retention Questionnaire (SARQ), consisting of two parts with six items each, validated by three experts and pilot-tested for reliability (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.85, 0.82, and 0.87 overall). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) to answer the research questions, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to test the null hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that major factors influencing attrition and low enrolment included inadequate funding, poor infrastructure,and negative societal perception, lack of skilled lecturers, limited career opportunities, and poor curriculum relevance. Strategies to minimize these challenges encompassed provision of adequate funding and scholarships, infrastructure improvements, public awareness campaigns, recruitment of skilled lecturers, curriculum alignment with labor market needs, and career guidance and internship opportunities. Based on these findings, the study recommended that the Federal and State Ministries of Education, in collaboration with the NBTE, establish a TVET intervention fund and strengthen policy support; that Colleges of Education align curricula with labour market needs and enhance lecturer capacity through continuous professional development; and that the Ministries of Education and Information launch nationwide awareness campaigns to improve the public image and enrolment in TVET programmes.