FG moves against forgers, orders compulsory verification of academic certificates

The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as military and paramilitary formations, to begin compulsory verification of the academic credentials of staff from October 6, 2025.

The move follows mounting concerns from academics about the erosion of educational integrity and the spread of fake certificates across the country.

In response, the government ordered the nationwide rollout of the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD).

The policy requires every MDA, institution, and organisation—whether public, private, civilian, or military—to subject staff and prospective employees’ qualifications to mandatory verification checks.

At the centre of the reform is the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank, a digital platform designed to store, manage, preserve, and verify educational records, publications, and credentials across all tiers of the system.

Designed as a one-stop hub for academic data, NERD allows instant authentication of certificates while serving as a permanent archive for historical academic outputs.

According to a circular dated August 8, 2025 (Ref: 58524/111C/579), signed by George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, every MDA and tertiary institution must now adopt the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) for authenticating the qualifications of staff and prospective employees.

Under the new system, no appointment will be confirmed without an NCVS clearance certifying the authenticity of academic documents.

Each clearance will generate a National Credential Number (NCN) and security codes linked to verified documents for record-keeping.

The circular noted that the directive derives legal backing from Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, 1985.

Implementation will be overseen by the newly established NERD, recommended by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in May 2023.

All MDAs and higher institutions—civilian, military, private, or public—must also submit annual NERD compliance reports by March 30 each year.

According to the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Nigeria has about 720,000 federal civil servants.