FG Makes Education Data Bank Compliance Mandatory for NYSC Participation
The Federal Government has made compliance with the Nigeria Education Repository and Data Bank (NERD) compulsory for participation in or exemption from the National Youth Service Corps, as part of renewed efforts to curb certificate fraud in the country.
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Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, announced the directive during a national programme on academic records integrity, describing NERD as a digital platform designed to standardise and authenticate academic credentials across tertiary institutions.
According to the minister, compliance with the platform will now serve as a prerequisite for individuals seeking participation in or exemption from the NYSC scheme.
“It is important to clarify that while NERD compliance is now a prerequisite for participation in, or exemption from, the National Youth Service Corps, enforcement extends far beyond NYSC,” Alausa said.
He explained that several government agencies will also require compliance with the system before offering their services. These include the National Universities Commission, National Board for Technical Education, National Commission for Colleges of Education, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, and the Industrial Training Fund.
The minister revealed that within four months of its rollout, nearly 100,000 student records have already been digitised, with more than 250 institutions onboarded and over 133,000 students enrolled on the platform.
Alausa also disclosed that the government had halted the trend of Nigerians acquiring fake degrees from unaccredited institutions abroad, particularly in the Republic of Benin.
“Before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came into government, there was a whistleblower who reported about Nigerians going to the Republic of Benin to study. That has been put to a complete stop, and all of those who obtained illegal certificates have been removed from the civil service and public service,” he stated.
The minister vowed that the Federal Government would continue strict enforcement measures to eliminate credential falsification and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.
FG Makes Education Data Bank Compliance Mandatory for NYSC Participation