The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced that prospective corps members will not be mobilized for national service without clearance from the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD).
In a public notice issued on Monday via its official X account, the scheme said the clearance is now mandatory and urged graduates to complete the process early to avoid delays.
“Without NERD clearance, no NYSC. Get your NERD clearance early,” the scheme stated.
NERD is a federal government-backed digital system designed to store and verify academic records, including projects, theses, and certificates, to ensure their authenticity and traceability.
The clearance serves as proof that a graduate’s academic work has been uploaded and validated in the national database, forming an additional verification layer before mobilization.
The directive comes as the NYSC begins preparations for the 2026 Batch ‘B’ orientation exercise, with institutions and graduates expected to complete all documentation ahead of mobilization.
The scheme also reiterated safety advisories for prospective corps members, warning against night travel to orientation camps and urging them to break journeys and use safe lodging where necessary.
The latest move reflects tighter verification measures by the NYSC as it seeks to improve the integrity of its mobilization process while addressing growing security concerns around interstate travel.
