Responding to persistent outcries from academics and reputable institutions, the Federal Government has intensified its crackdown on certificate racketeering and the abuse of academic honours.
As part of this effort, the government has ordered a nationwide enforcement of the regulations outlined in the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) on academic credential verification, effective October 6, 2025.
The directive was contained in a service-wide circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, on August 8, 2025. A copy of the circular was sighted by our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the circular, beginning October 6, 2025, all Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and higher institutions—whether civilian, military, public, or private—must implement a structured verification of academic credentials for all existing and prospective staff through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS), a core component of the NERD programme.
It further stated that no new employment should be confirmed without obtaining an NCVS clearance verifying the authenticity of each credential presented.
The NCVS clearance will include a National Credential Number (NCN) assigned to each verified document, along with security codes for record-keeping purposes.
This reform means that every certificate, diploma, honour, or award must be earned from an accredited institution and be fully traceable, verifiable, and validatable.
Unlike previous interventions, this directive establishes an independent quality assurance regime beyond the control of any single institution, ensuring greater integrity in the education sector.
The move invokes Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions Act 1985), placing enforcement responsibility under the newly established NERD, which was proposed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in May 2023.
The NCVS, introduced by Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa in March 2025 after approval by the Federal Executive Council, was launched as a nationwide quality assurance mechanism to curb academic fraud, including fake degrees, forged qualifications, and bogus honours from unaccredited institutions.