FG orders mandatory verification of academic credentials across MDAs, military, and private institutions

By Matthew Ogunwale

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

The directive, contained in a circular dated August 8, 2025 (Ref: 58524/111C/579) and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume (CON), follows rising concerns over fake degrees, fraudulent certificates, and declining educational standards across the country.

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Under the new policy, institutions must use the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS), introduced as part of the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD). Staff appointments will now be confirmed only after NCVS clearance authenticates submitted qualifications. Each verified document will generate a National Credential Number (NCN) and security codes for record tracking.

This marks a departure from the old system of relying on issuing schools for verification, a process government officials say has been plagued by bias and weak oversight.

The National Universities Commission (NUC), which first proposed NERD in 2023, will oversee the scheme’s enforcement. All MDAs and institutions must also file annual compliance reports by March 30 every year.

According to a Bureau of Public Service Reforms report, Nigeria has about 720,000 federal civil servants, all of whom will be subjected to the exercise.

The NCVS was launched in March 2025 by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, after Federal Executive Council approval. At the launch, Dr. Alausa described the scheme as a safeguard to “restore integrity in Nigeria’s education system” by tackling counterfeit degrees, unaccredited institutions, and diploma mills.

With this move, the Federal Government says it is committed to strengthening quality assurance, restoring public confidence, and protecting Nigeria’s educational reputation both at home and abroad.