The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) announced that prospective corps members will now be required to present compliance certificates from the Nigeria Educational Repository and Databank (NERD) before mobilisation nationwide.
Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, the Director-General of NYSC, stated this on Monday in Abuja during the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Pre-Mobilisation Workshop focused on strengthening accountability and compliance across the mobilisation process nationwide.
It was reported that NERD is a Federal Government initiative aimed at improving verification and documentation of academic records while combating certificate fraud across educational institutions nationwide.
Nafiu said the implementation of this compliance requirement would begin with the 2026 Batch B Stream One Orientation Course, as part of efforts to enhance accountability and credibility in the NYSC mobilisation process.
“This policy is a crucial step towards reducing credential fraud and ensuring that only genuinely qualified graduates are mobilised.
We urge Corps Producing Institutions to sensitize their students and ensure strict adherence, and we call on all stakeholders to support this process for the greater good of the scheme,” Nafiu added.
The director-general emphasized that effective mobilisation requires collective responsibility among stakeholders, noting that the process is not solely NYSC’s responsibility but depends on cooperation from relevant institutions nationwide.
He encouraged participants to use the workshop to exchange ideas, address challenges, and build partnerships, noting that the outcomes of these discussions would significantly influence the future of NYSC mobilisation activities nationwide.
“When we work in synergy, we make the transition for prospective corps members smooth, transparent, and credible.
Remember, behind every clearance, verification, and compliance procedure is a young individual with dreams and aspirations.
Our role as custodians and facilitators of this noble scheme is to make the journey seamless while maintaining the highest standards of accountability and integrity,” Nafiu said.
He called for innovation in mobilisation operations, highlighting the importance of adopting digital platforms, improving data verification processes, and strengthening inter-agency collaboration for a more credible system nationwide.
“The NYSC mobilisation process must not be static or resistant to innovation. We must embrace the changing dynamics of education, technology, and governance that impact our operations,” Nafiu stated.
He urged NYSC officials to enhance internal control mechanisms, improve transparency in deployment and documentation, and prioritize the adoption of modern technologies for registration, verification, and monitoring of prospective corps members.
Nafiu also advised Corps Producing Institutions to uphold honesty when certifying graduates’ academic records, avoid manipulation or misrepresentation of information, and regularly sensitize graduating students about mobilisation requirements and procedures nationwide.
Mrs. Rachel Idaewor, Director of the Corps Mobilisation Department, described the workshop as an important platform for strengthening collaboration among NYSC, Corps Producing Institutions, and other stakeholders involved in the mobilisation process nationwide.
Idaewor noted that although progress has been made in improving mobilisation processes, there remains an urgent need to optimize service delivery across the entire mobilisation value chain.
“We aim to explore innovative approaches that enhance service delivery and address current challenges.
Maintaining high standards in service delivery is not only operational but also vital for maintaining stakeholder trust and confidence,” she added.
She urged Student Affairs Officers to approach their responsibilities with diligence and integrity, ensuring that the information provided accurately reflects the profiles and records of all prospective corps members submitted for mobilisation nationwide.
