President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a sweeping crackdown on academic fraud, ordering compulsory verification of all civil servants’ certificates across Nigeria beginning October 6, 2025. The directive, which extends to ministries, departments, agencies, as well as military and paramilitary organizations, marks one of the boldest moves yet against the scourge of certificate forgery in the country.
The policy stems from growing alarm among education experts and employers over the spread of fake credentials and the erosion of integrity in Nigeria’s academic system. To curb the crisis, the federal government has made the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) mandatory nationwide.
At the heart of the reform is the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank, a central digital platform designed to preserve, manage, and verify academic records across every level of the educational system. Through the system, institutions and employers will be able to instantly authenticate certificates, with each clearance producing a National Credential Number (NCN) and unique security codes tied to verified documents.
The policy will be enforced through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS). Under the new rules, no appointment in the civil service or related sectors will be confirmed without NCVS clearance, ensuring that forged certificates no longer slip through recruitment processes.
A circular dated August 8, 2025, and signed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, emphasized that the order applies to all institutions, civilian, military, private, and public. The initiative, backed by Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act of 1985, places certificate verification at the center of Nigeria’s efforts to restore credibility to its educational system.
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Analysts predict that the reform could trigger widespread job losses, especially in the public service, private schools, and higher institutions where falsified documents may have gone unchecked for years. Yet officials insist the long-term benefits outweigh the risks, stressing that the move will not only safeguard future generations but also protect Nigeria’s global reputation.
Oversight of the system will fall under the newly established NERD, recommended by the National Universities Commission in 2023, which will function as the national custodian of academic data. By shifting verification away from individual schools and relying instead on a centralized digital system, the government aims to eliminate loopholes and shield the process from manipulation.
With the countdown to October underway, the Tinubu administration has signaled that certificate forgery will no longer be tolerated, setting the stage for what could become the most comprehensive credential audit in Nigeria’s history.
