No NERD, no NYSC, Education minister announces strict new rules

NYSC members

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening the integrity of academic records and improving institutional compliance across the education sector, as part of broader reforms aimed at safeguarding the credibility of the country’s educational system.

The government also stated that it had taken decisive steps to curb certificate fraud, following reports that Nigerians had obtained questionable degrees from unaccredited institutions abroad.

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, disclosed this on Thursday during his keynote address at a national capacity-building programme for school representatives organised to support the implementation of the Nigeria Education Repository and Data Bank.

The programme, themed ‘Strengthening Institutional Compliance and Academic Records Integrity,’ was organised to reinforce compliance frameworks and ensure the accuracy, security and authenticity of academic records across educational institutions nationwide.

Addressing participants, the minister underscored the importance of reliable data in governance and policymaking.

“I have this quote right in my office that I read every day. Data is the lifeblood of effective governance. It enables us to understand the challenges we face, so that we can design and implement effective solutions, as well as monitor and evaluate our progress.

“Without data, we are flying blind. And that is not what this government is about,” he said.

The minister also praised President Bola Tinubu for pursuing what he described as difficult but necessary reforms.

“We have seen this president take difficult decisions. Our country is being transformed like it’s never been before. Positive transformation in a way that is laying our country on the path of sustainability,” he said.

According to the minister, NERD is a strategic national infrastructure designed to digitise, standardise and authenticate academic records across tertiary institutions in the country.