The Federal Government has declared that it will begin nationwide enforcement of the National Policy on the Nigerian Education Repository and Databank (NERD), focusing on the verification of academic credentials.
This enforcement is set to begin on October 6, 2025.
In a circular dated August 8 and released to the media in Abuja on Wednesday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, directed all Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and higher institutions across the country to adopt a standardized system for verifying the academic qualifications of both existing and prospective staff.
The verification will be carried out through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) as part of the NERD initiative.
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.
“NERD is a federation initiative and the federal standard for higher education digitisation, designed to protect national security and prestige, ensure education integrity, and digitally enhance the economic value of Nigeria’s education for global competitiveness,” Galadima said.
She added that NERD’s mandate also includes administration of the National School Number (NSN), National Credential Number (NCN), and National Document Number, as well as hosting 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; NERD facilitates organic cooperation and coordination of decentralised systems in the national interest,” she explained.
Galadima further 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 across the country.
