the Federal Government has announced that no graduate will be mobilised into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) — nor granted an exemption — without full compliance with the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) policy. The policy, approved by President Bola Tinubu, takes effect immediately and applies to all graduates, whether trained in Nigeria or abroad.
According to the Ministry of Education, the new regulation mandates that all graduates must submit their academic credentials, including final-year projects, theses, dissertations, and other scholarly outputs, into the NERD platform. This digital repository serves as the official national reference for academic works and ensures that each graduate’s output is properly verified and authenticated before NYSC mobilisation or exemption can be processed.
The government’s spokesperson emphasized that the move is designed to combat certificate fraud, uphold academic integrity, and strengthen quality assurance across all Nigerian tertiary institutions. Officials note that NERD compliance will also enhance record-keeping and tracking of student academic activity nationwide, creating a robust framework for verifying academic credentials.
The Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) is a centralised platform developed to host academic works from universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other recognized institutions. Graduates are required to register on the NERD portal, upload their final-year academic work, and ensure that all metadata — including student name, supervisor, department, and institution — is accurately included. Only after successful submission and verification will NYSC mobilisation clearance or exemption be issued.
This directive applies to all prospective corps members, with no exceptions based on the country of study or type of institution attended. The Federal Government has made it clear that the policy is non-negotiable, signaling a stricter era in the administration of NYSC mobilization.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation formally communicated the circular approving this adjustment, highlighting the government’s commitment to ensuring the integrity and authenticity of Nigerian graduates’ academic achievements. Graduates seeking mobilisation or exemption from NYSC after October 6, 2025, must meet NERD compliance requirements, or they risk being denied participation in the scheme.
