FG Mandates Thesis Submission for NYSC Mobilisation Under NERD Policy

The Federal Government has approved a major reform that makes compliance with the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) a compulsory requirement for mobilisation into, or exemption from, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu invoked Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act to back the reform, which was communicated through an enforcement circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume. The circular adjusted the NYSC mobilisation criteria to require proof of NERD Policy compliance from all prospective corps members, regardless of whether they studied in Nigeria or abroad.

Under the new policy, Nigerian students must deposit academic outputs — including theses and project reports — into the repository. According to Section 6.1.23 of the policy, this requirement serves as “a quality assurance check and a yearly independent proof of continuous academic enrolment and affiliation,” ensuring every academic activity is time-stamped and authenticated.

The reform builds on the March 2025 declaration by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who confirmed that mandatory submission of academic work under the NERD framework was now an obligatory national standard. “The NERD Policy applies in equal measures to all education delivery institutions regardless of ownership type… whether within or outside the direct supervision of the federal ministry of education,” Alausa said at the time.

Effective from October 6, no graduate from Nigerian or foreign universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education will be mobilised for or exempted from NYSC without proof of NERD compliance. However, the directive does not affect corps members already serving or those enrolled before the enforcement date.

The move is intended to protect Nigeria’s intellectual assets and restore credibility to academic qualifications. President Tinubu also approved a reward mechanism that allows students and lecturers to monetise their deposited academic outputs, ensuring long-term revenue benefits.

NERD spokesperson Haula Galadima explained the accountability benefits: “Each item deposited by a student shall feature the full name of the student, supervisor, co-supervisor if any, and Head of Department, as well as the sponsoring institution and department. Very few lecturers would want their names associated with poorly produced academic works.”

She stressed that the programme’s goal is to improve the quality of academic content and supervision nationwide: “NERD is therefore poised to help each lecturer earn his ‘earned allowances’ by providing thorough supervision.”

The circular also directs Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and higher institutions to fully enforce the policy, while agencies like the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) are required to provide data exchange support to aid validation and onboarding.

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