The Federal Government has announced that the nationwide enforcement of its new policy on academic credential verification will officially take off on October 6, 2025.
The policy, anchored on the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) programme, is designed to standardise and digitise the verification of academic qualifications across the country.
In a circular dated August 8 and released in Abuja on Wednesday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, directed all ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and higher institutions, both public and private, to commence the use of the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) for staff and prospective employees.
According to Akume, no appointment in the civil service or any government-owned institution will be confirmed without an NCVS clearance certifying the authenticity of the credentials submitted.
“From October 6, all MDAs and higher institutions in Nigeria, whether civilian or military, are mandated to verify staff credentials through the NCVS before confirmation of employment.
“Each clearance will come with a unique National Credential Number and security codes for record purposes,” the SGF explained.
The government said the new system ensures that every certificate, diploma, or academic award presented in Nigeria is traceable, verifiable, and linked to an accredited institution.
The reform also removes sole reliance on universities and colleges for verification, creating a central, technology-driven process that is less prone to compromise.
The enforcement draws from Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act of 1985, which assigns enforcement duties to the NERD programme.
The framework was first proposed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in 2023 and later approved by the Federal Executive Council.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, had earlier introduced the NCVS in March, describing it as a “systemic quality assurance check to tackle academic fraud and fake degrees that have tarnished the country’s education system.”
Haula Galadima, Executive Director of Communication and Cybersecurity for the NERD programme, confirmed that the infrastructure for the verification service is ready for full deployment.
She called on government institutions, universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and private organisations to register their NERD Focal Persons and Digitisation Officers through the agency’s portal.
“NERD is Nigeria’s federal standard for higher education digitisation. It safeguards national security, protects the integrity of our education system, and enhances the global competitiveness of Nigerian qualifications,” Galadima said.
She explained that the agency’s mandate extends beyond credential checks, noting that it also oversees the issuance of National Credential Numbers (NCN), National Document Numbers, and maintains a database of resource persons for instant verification.
Galadima further highlighted that the NERD governing council, chaired by the education minister, includes the heads of the NUC, NBTE, NCCE, National Library, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, as well as committees of vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts across the country.
Education stakeholders say the move could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s battle against fake degrees and academic fraud, a menace that has dented the country’s reputation globally.