The Federal Government has announced that clearance through the National Education Records Database (NERD) is now compulsory for graduates seeking mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Education authorities said the new requirement is aimed at strengthening the verification of academic qualifications and eliminating fraudulent certificates from the mobilisation process.
Under the new directive, all tertiary institutions are expected to upload verified academic records of graduating students onto the national database before they can be considered for NYSC mobilisation.
Officials explained that the policy will improve data integrity and enhance confidence in Nigeria’s education system.
They said institutions failing to comply with the new verification process could experience delays in processing graduates for national service.
The government maintained that the initiative forms part of broader reforms to digitise educational records and reduce certificate forgery.
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Education administrators welcomed the policy, saying a central verification system would simplify the authentication of academic credentials for employers and government agencies.
Some university officials noted that the new process would also improve record management and reduce administrative bottlenecks.
Students were advised to confirm that their institutions have completed all required documentation well ahead of NYSC mobilisation timelines.
Officials assured prospective corps members that adequate support would be provided during the transition to minimise disruptions.
The NYSC management said the new verification process would strengthen the credibility of the scheme and ensure that only qualified graduates participate in national service.
Education stakeholders also described the development as an important step towards improving accountability within tertiary institutions.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to deploying technology to improve education management and protect the integrity of academic qualifications across the country.

