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The Nigerian government will begin enforcing nationwide academic credential verification for all employees and recruits across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as higher institutions, from October 6, 2025.
In a circular dated August 8 and released in Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, confirmed that the process will be carried out through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) under the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) programme.
The NCVS, part of the NERD initiative approved earlier this year, will provide instant, traceable validation of academic records. Each verified certificate will carry a unique National Credential Number and security codes, replacing the old system where institutions alone managed verification.
Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa said the reform aims to curb academic fraud and fake qualifications that have undermined Nigeria’s education system.
“This national standard ensures every academic credential is identifiable, traceable, and verifiable at the click of a button,” he noted.
Akume stressed that no appointment will be confirmed without NCVS clearance. “All MDAs and higher institutions—civilian, military, private or public—must verify the academic credentials of all staff and prospective staff through the NCVS and secure instant clearance before appointments are confirmed,” he stated.
NERD Executive Director for Communication and Cybersecurity, Haula Galadima, said the service is ready for deployment and urged institutions to register their NERD Focal Persons and Digitisation Officers via the official website.
She described NERD as the nation’s one-stop shop for data consistency and higher education digitisation, enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
The NERD Governing Council, chaired by the Minister of Education and including the leadership of key regulatory bodies, will oversee the initiative.
Backed by Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, 1985, the policy requires that every certificate or diploma presented in Nigeria must originate from an accredited institution and be verifiable through the central database.
