The Federal Government has announced the commencement of a nationwide certificate verification exercise for all employees in public and private sectors, effective Oct. 6.
The directive affects all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), security institutions, financial establishments, and private organizations, as part of efforts to clamp down on the use of fake academic credentials in Nigeria’s workforce.
The verification will be conducted through the newly established Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD), under the supervision of the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS).
According to officials, each verified academic certificate will be assigned a unique security code for authentication and record-keeping purposes.
“No candidate will be hired, promoted, or confirmed in any employment role without undergoing this mandatory verification,” a government statement said, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to restoring credibility to the nation’s education and employment systems.
The move follows the revocation of more than 22,000 fake degree certificates in 2024, most of which were linked to institutions in Benin Republic and Togo. The scandal exposed a growing underground market for forged academic documents.
Education experts have welcomed the initiative but noted that its implementation may affect some workers.
“This is a necessary reform that may lead to job losses for some individuals, but it will ultimately strengthen the credibility of Nigerian graduates and improve global confidence in our education system,” said Dr. Mariam Edoga, a higher education policy analyst.
The government has urged full compliance from all sectors involved, warning that institutions failing to verify staff credentials may face sanctions.
