FG to Begin Nationwide Certificate Verification October 6

The Federal Government has ordered all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as public and private higher institutions, to begin structured verification of academic credentials from October 6, 2025.

A circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, directed that all new and existing staff must have their certificates validated through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) under the Nigerian Education Repository and Databank (NERD) programme.

Akume stressed that no appointment will be confirmed without NCVS clearance. “Effective from October 6, 2025, all MDAs and higher institutions, whether civilian, military, private, or public, are to implement intensive verification of credentials through the NCVS and ensure compliance for each recruitment,” the circular stated.

Each verified credential will carry a National Credential Number and security codes, making certificates identifiable, traceable, and instantly verifiable. The government said the reform eliminates the previous reliance on individual institutions and creates a national quality assurance framework insulated from compromise.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, described the NCVS as a systemic safeguard against fake degrees, bogus honours, and academic fraud, following its approval by the Federal Executive Council earlier this year.

NERD’s Executive Director of Communication and Cybersecurity, Haula Galadima, confirmed readiness for nationwide deployment, urging MDAs, schools, and private organisations to register their focal officers via the agency’s website.

She explained that NERD will also administer the National School Number, National Credential Number, and National Document Number, while hosting a database of resource persons for instant verification of genuine awards.

Galadima said: “NERD is Nigeria’s official one-stop shop for education data consistency. It is designed to protect national security and prestige, ensure academic integrity, and enhance the economic value of Nigerian education for global competitiveness.”

The NERD Governing Council is chaired by the Minister of Education, with membership drawn from the NUC, NBTE, NCCE, National Library, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and leadership of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.