By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
Under the new education policy,
The Federal Government has announced October 6, 2025, as the commencement date for mandatory nationwide verification of academic credentials, as part of efforts to curb certificate racketeering and restore integrity to Nigeria’s education system.
The directive is contained in a service-wide circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and addressed to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as public and private tertiary institutions.
According to the circular, the enforcement will be implemented through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS), which operates under the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD).
It mandates that both existing and prospective staff in public and private institutions must obtain clearance from the NCVS before their appointments can be confirmed. Each verified credential will be assigned a National Credential Number (NCN) with security codes to ensure traceability and authenticity.
Government officials said the new mechanism represents a shift from past interventions, creating a centralised quality assurance system that is independent of individual institutions. The initiative draws its legal backing from Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act 1985.
The NCVS was launched in March 2025 by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, following Federal Executive Council approval. At the time, Alausa described the policy as “a decisive move to end fake degrees, phony honours, and diploma mills undermining Nigeria’s education credibility.”
