The Federal Government has intensified its war against certificate racketeering and academic fraud with the announcement of a mandatory nationwide credential verification exercise scheduled to begin on October 6, 2025.
In a circular issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as public and private tertiary institutions, have been directed to adopt a structured verification system for all academic credentials used for employment, promotion, or appointment.
The policy is designed to restore confidence in Nigeria’s educational system and close the loopholes that have allowed fake certificates and unverified qualifications to flourish across the country.
Under the new directive, every employee and prospective staff member in government offices, universities, polytechnics, and colleges will be required to obtain clearance through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS). The NCVS operates within the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) initiative and will issue a unique National Credential Number (NCN) and security codes for each verified certificate, ensuring that every academic document can be traced and authenticated.
From the effective date in October, no confirmation of appointment or promotion will be processed without a valid NCVS clearance, making the verification a key part of official documentation and record-keeping.
This sweeping move follows years of public concern over widespread certificate forgery, illegal degree-awarding institutions, and the infiltration of unaccredited foreign qualifications into Nigeria’s job market. The government had earlier set up a special committee to investigate the menace of certificate racketeering and recommend preventive measures.
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By creating a centralized academic database, the NCVS is expected to bring transparency and integrity to recruitment processes, while making it increasingly difficult for fraudulent credentials to pass through employment checks.
While the policy has been widely praised as a necessary step toward sanitizing the education sector, experts warn that its success will depend on smooth implementation and strong data protection safeguards.
Integrating thousands of institutions into a single verification system within a short period may pose logistical challenges, particularly for older records and foreign qualifications.
There are also concerns about privacy and the secure handling of sensitive academic data, which must comply with Nigeria’s data protection laws.
However, despite these hurdles, the Federal Government insists that the October 6 rollout is non-negotiable. Officials say the initiative will not only protect employers and institutions from fraud but also enhance the global credibility of Nigerian certificates and degrees.
For millions of workers and graduates, the coming weeks will mean swift action to verify credentials, as non-compliance could delay confirmations, promotions, and even fresh appointments. The nationwide verification drive signals a decisive effort to end the era of fake certificates and reaffirm the value of genuine academic achievement in Nigeria.
