-
FG Makes Thesis Submission Mandatory for NYSC Mobilisation
-
New NERD policy to take effect October 6, 2025
-
No graduate to join or be exempted from NYSC without proof of compliance
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered that no Nigerian graduate will be mobilised for or exempted from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) without proof of compliance with the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD).
The enforcement directive, anchored on Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act, was contained in a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who confirmed the President’s approval. The measure takes effect from October 6, 2025.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
Under the new rule, all students graduating from Nigerian or foreign institutions must deposit their academic outputs including theses and project reports into the NERD system before being considered for NYSC mobilisation or exemption.
Section 6.1.23 of the NERD policy describes the requirement as “a quality assurance check and a yearly independent proof of continuous academic enrolment and affiliation,” designed to time-stamp scholarship and preserve intellectual assets.
The Federal Government said the move was necessary to combat certificate racketeering, restore credibility to academic qualifications, and safeguard the nation’s intellectual property.
Clarifications and Exemptions
The circular clarified that serving Corps members and graduates already mobilised before the enforcement date would not be affected.
In March 2025, Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, had announced that the submission of academic works would be a mandatory requirement across all higher institutions, regardless of ownership,bpublic, private, military, or civilian.
A copy of the NERD policy obtained by Vanguard revealed that President Tinubu also approved a monetisation mechanism for students and lecturers. The initiative will allow them to earn lifetime revenues from deposited works, a scheme proposed to the Federal Executive Council by Dr Alausa.
READ ALSO: Corps Member Petitions Tinubu Over ‘Unlawful’ NYSC Service Year Extension
The policy also directs Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and higher institutions to establish local repositories, while critical data bodies, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), are mandated to provide inter-agency support for data validation.
NERD spokesperson, Haula Galadima, stressed that every submission must feature the names of the student, supervisor, co-supervisor, Head of Department, and sponsoring institution.
She said the system would compel lecturers to uphold higher standards.
She said: “If our eminent scholars know their names will appear next to poorly produced academic works on a global platform, they will raise their game. NERD is designed to ensure lecturers provide thorough supervision while helping them earn their allowances.”
The Federal Government said the reform is a “national flagship” for digitisation, aimed at strengthening supervision, elevating the quality of academic work, and enforcing transparency across Nigeria’s education sector.
