The Federal Government has directed the nationwide enforcement of the national policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) on academic credential verification, effective from 6 October.
The directive was contained in a circular dated 8 August, issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
Akume instructed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as higher institutions across Nigeria, to begin structured verification of the academic credentials of both staff and prospective staff through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) under the NERD programme.
He stressed that no appointment would be confirmed without an NCVS clearance confirming the authenticity of submitted qualifications.
“Effective from 6 October 2025, all MDAs and higher institutions in Nigeria—whether civilian, military, private, or public – are to implement an intensive yet structured verification of the academic credentials of staff and applicants through the NCVS of the NERD programme, and ensure compliance in every new recruitment by obtaining an instant NCVS clearance,” the circular stated.
Each clearance will carry a National Credential Number (NCN) and related security codes for record purposes.
According to Akume, the reform means every certificate, diploma, honour, or award presented in Nigeria must originate from an accredited institution and be identifiable, traceable, verifiable, and validated instantly.
The new policy ends the previous reliance on institutions to verify credentials, establishing instead a national quality assurance mechanism designed to prevent compromise.
The directive draws on Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, 1985, which assigns enforcement responsibility to NERD. The programme was proposed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in May 2023.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who introduced the NCVS in March following Federal Executive Council approval, described it as a systemic quality assurance measure aimed at curbing academic fraud, fake degrees, and bogus honours.
In a separate statement, Haula Galadima, Executive Director of Communication and Cybersecurity for NERD, confirmed that the agency’s services were ready for nationwide deployment. She urged MDAs, post-secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and the private sector to register their NERD Focal Persons and Digitisation Officers via the agency’s website.
“NERD is a federation initiative and the federal standard for higher education digitisation, designed to protect national security and prestige, ensure educational integrity, and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s education,” Galadima said.
She added that NERD’s mandate includes administration of the NSN, NCN and National Document Number (NDN), as well as maintaining a national database of resource persons for instant verification of genuine honours.
“The Federal Government has created the nation’s official one-stop shop for data consistency. Each system remains autonomous, but NERD facilitates cooperation and coordination of decentralised systems in the national interest,” she explained.
Galadima also disclosed that the NERD Governing Council, chaired by the Minister of Education, includes the leadership of the NUC, NBTE, NCCE, National Library, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and committees of vice chancellors, rectors, and provosts nationwide.
