Federal Government Orders Nationwide Clampdown on Fake Certificates, Sets October Enforcement Deadline
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and higher institutions across Nigeria to begin strict verification of academic credentials from October 6, 2025, as part of a sweeping clampdown on fake certificates and fraudulent qualifications.
OTN News further reports as gathered that the directive was contained in a circular dated August 8 and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
According to the circular, the enforcement is tied to the National Policy for the Nigerian Education Repository and Databank (NERD) and will be implemented through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS).
Akume explained that no appointment will be confirmed in any public or private institution without NCVS clearance affirming the authenticity of the academic qualifications presented.
He added that each clearance will carry a National Credential Number and unique security codes for record-keeping.
“Effective from October 6, 2025, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as all higher institutions in Nigeria, whether civilian, military, private or public, are to commence the implementation of an intensive yet structured verification of the academic credentials of all staff and intending staff through the National Credential Verification Service of the NERD programme,” Akume stated.
Furthermore, he stressed that the reform ensures every certificate, diploma, or honour presented in Nigeria must be earned from an accredited institution and must be identifiable, traceable, verifiable, and validated instantly.
This approach, he said, replaces the previous reliance on individual institutions to verify credentials, embedding a national quality assurance mechanism that is insulated from compromise.
The policy invokes Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, 1985, assigning NERD the responsibility of enforcement.
OTN News observes that the programme was first proposed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in May 2023 and received Federal Executive Council approval earlier this year.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who unveiled the NCVS in March, described the scheme as a systemic safeguard against academic fraud, fake degrees, and bogus honours.
He emphasised that the initiative is designed to protect Nigeria’s educational integrity and global competitiveness.
NERD’s Executive Director of Communication and Cybersecurity, Haula Galadima, confirmed that the agency is fully prepared for nationwide deployment.
She urged MDAs, post-secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and the private sector to enrol NERD Focal Persons and Digitisation Officers through the agency’s website.
“NERD is a federation initiative and the federal standard for higher education digitisation, designed to protect national security and prestige, ensure education integrity, and digitally enhance the economic value of Nigeria’s education for global competitiveness,” Galadima said.
She further disclosed that the NERD Governing Council, chaired by the Minister of Education, includes the leadership of the NUC, NBTE, NCCE, National Library, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and committees of vice chancellors, rectors, and provosts nationwide.
OTN News, however, observes that with this policy, the government says Nigeria now has an official one-stop shop for academic data consistency, supported by the issuance of National Credential Numbers, National School Numbers, and National Document Numbers.
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