Thursday, September 25, 2025 -The Federal Government has announced a nationwide enforcement of the National Policy for the Nigerian Education Repository and Databank concerning academic credential verification.
This enforcement is scheduled to commence on October 6,
2025.
According to a circular issued by the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, dated 8 August and made
available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, all Ministries, Departments,
Agencies, and higher institutions in Nigeria must implement a structured
verification process for the academic credentials of all current and
prospective staff.
This process is to be conducted through the National
Credential Verification Service (NCVS) under the NERD programme.
Akume emphasised that no appointment will be confirmed
without NCVS clearance affirming the authenticity of academic qualifications
presented.
He stated, “Effective from October 6, 2025, all Ministries,
Departments and Agencies as well as all higher institutions in Nigeria, whether
civilian, military, private or public, are to commence the implementation of an
intensive yet structured verification of the academic credentials of all staff
and intending staff through the National Credential Verification Service of the
NERD programme, and thereafter ensure compliance for each new recruitment by
obtaining instant NCVS clearance.
“This clearance affirms the authenticity of each academic
credential presented anywhere within the Federal Republic of Nigeria before
confirming appointment.”
Each clearance will carry a National Credential Number and
ancillary security codes for record purposes.
Akume explained that the reform means every certificate,
diploma, honour, or award presented in Nigeria must be earned from an
accredited institution and be identifiable, traceable, verifiable, and
validated at the click of a button.
He added that the initiative moves away from the previous
reliance on individual institutions to verify credentials, embedding a national
quality assurance mechanism insulated from compromise.
The policy invokes Section 10(1) of the Education (National
Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, 1985, assigning
enforcement responsibility to NERD, which was proposed by the National
Universities Commission (NUC) in May 2023.
Furthermore, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who
introduced the NCVS in March following Federal Executive Council approval,
described the scheme as a systemic quality assurance measure designed to
curtail academic fraud, fake degrees, and bogus honours.
In a statement, Haula Galadima, Executive Director of
Communication and Cybersecurity for NERD, confirmed that the agency’s services
are ready for nationwide deployment.
She urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies,
post-secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and the private sector to enrol
their NERD Focal Persons and Digitisation Officers via the agency’s website.
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