FG Sets October 6 Deadline for Nationwide Crackdown on Fake Academic Certificates

The Federal Government has announced a nationwide crackdown on fake academic certificates, setting October 6, 2025, as the deadline for full implementation of mandatory credential verification.

In a service-wide circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as public and private higher institutions, are required to verify academic credentials under the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD).

Under the policy, all current and prospective staff must obtain clearance through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) before appointments can be confirmed. Each verified credential will be assigned a National Credential Number (NCN) and security codes, making certificates, diplomas, and awards traceable and instantly verifiable.

This initiative marks a departure from previous measures by introducing a system-wide quality assurance framework that operates independently of individual institutions. The NCVS, formally launched in March 2025 by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, was approved by the Federal Executive Council to combat fake degrees and diploma mill practices that threaten Nigeria’s education standards.

Ms. Haula Galadima, Executive Director of Communication and Cybersecurity for NERD, confirmed that all services are now fully operational and urged employers to register their Focal Persons and Records Officers through ned.gov.ng/onboarding.

“By October 6, fake degrees and unearned honours will no longer slip through the cracks. Every credential presented in Nigeria must be verifiable at the click of a button,” Galadima said.

The NERD system aims to protect national security, uphold education integrity, and boost the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s academic system through a federated digital platform linking decentralized institutional databases.