The Federal Government has announced its intention to crackdown on certificate racketeering and academic fraud with a directive mandating nationwide credential verification beginning October 6, 2025.
The order, contained in a service-wide circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, requires all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as public and private tertiary institutions, to enforce mandatory checks under the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD).
Under the new policy, both existing and prospective employees must secure clearance through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) before their appointments can be confirmed.
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Each verified certificate, diploma, or award will be issued with a unique National Credential Number (NCN) and security codes, ensuring authenticity and instant traceability.
The NCVS, launched in March 2025 by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, was approved by the Federal Executive Council as part of efforts to eliminate fake degrees and so-called “diploma mills” that have long plagued Nigeria’s education sector.
Unlike previous interventions, the scheme introduces a system-wide, independent quality assurance mechanism that cuts across all institutions.
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Speaking on the rollout, Ms. Haula Galadima, Executive Director of Communication and Cybersecurity at NERD, confirmed that the platform is fully operational and urged employers to onboard their Focal Persons and Records Officers via ned.gov.ng/onboarding.
“By October 6, fake degrees and unearned honours will no longer slip through the cracks. Every credential presented in Nigeria must be verifiable at the click of a button,” Galadima stressed.
According to the government, the NERD system is designed to safeguard national security, restore integrity to Nigeria’s education system, and boost global competitiveness by integrating institutional databases into a secure, federated digital repository.