Students Stranded Over New NYSC Policy
The Federal Government has approved a new policy requiring all students to submit their final-year projects and theses to the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) as a compulsory condition for mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Nigerian Culture Book
The new rule was confirmed in a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s approval on Saturday.
According to the circular, “NYSC mobilisation criteria have been adjusted in accordance with the President’s directive, requiring proof of compliance with the NERD Policy from all prospective corps members, regardless of their institution of learning.”
The policy mandates that all students deposit their academic outputs—such as final-year projects and postgraduate theses—into the national digital repository.
According to Section 6.1.23 of the NERD guidelines, this is intended to serve as both a quality assurance mechanism and a yearly, independent verification of students’ academic enrolment and institutional affiliation.
NERD spokesperson Haula Galadima explained the intent behind the reform: “Apart from serving as a national authentication system, the NERD digitisation programme aims to raise the standard of academic content, output, and presentation across the country.”
She added that each submission will include full details such as the student’s name, supervisor(s), Head of Department, and the sponsoring institution and department.
Galadima stressed that this move will not only improve academic transparency but also encourage lecturers to maintain higher standards.
“If our eminent scholars know their names will appear alongside those of the students they supervise on a globally accessible platform, it is likely they will take greater care in upholding academic rigour.
“Very few lecturers would want their names attached to substandard academic work.”
The policy was initially declared active in March by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who stated that the submission of academic outputs had become mandatory.
“Sections 2.3, 4.3(1), and 7.6.11(c), among others, of the approved National Policy for the NERD Programme make this requirement legally binding,” he said.
A copy of the approved policy also shows that President Tinubu endorsed an academic monetisation mechanism—allowing students and supervisors to earn lifetime royalties from their deposited work.
“This ensures students and lecturers can generate recurring income from their intellectual contributions,” the document notes.
The SGF clarified that the new rule applies to all graduates of Nigerian universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, as well as foreign institutions. Nigerian Culture Book
However, those already serving in the NYSC or mobilised before 6 October are exempt from the new requirement.
The Federal Government says the policy is designed to combat certificate fraud, protect Nigeria’s intellectual property, and enhance the credibility of higher education qualifications across the country. Nigerian Culture BookNigerian Culture Book
