The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced that clearance from the National Electronic Registration Database (NERD), also known as the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank, is now a compulsory requirement for the mobilisation of all Prospective Corps Members (PCMs).

In a public notice issued on Monday, August 3, 2026, the scheme declared that graduates who fail to obtain NERD clearance will not be mobilised for the mandatory national service.

The directive, which takes immediate effect, will apply to the 2026 Batch 'B' mobilisation and all subsequent service years.

According to the NYSC, the policy is part of the Federal Government's efforts to curb certificate forgery, strengthen the authentication of academic credentials, and promote a unified digital verification system for graduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The scheme stressed that prospective corps members must upload their academic records, including final-year projects or theses, to the NERD platform and obtain an official clearance slip before proceeding with NYSC registration.

In addition, PCMs are expected to keep a hard copy of their project, duly endorsed by their Head of Department, and present it alongside the NERD clearance slip during registration at their orientation camps.

The NYSC warned that failure to comply with the new directive would result in disqualification from mobilisation.

Meanwhile, the management also advised prospective corps members to avoid travelling at night to their orientation camps, citing security concerns on major highways. It urged those embarking on long-distance journeys to seek shelter at nearby military formations, NYSC secretariats, police stations, or other safe public locations whenever nightfall approaches.

The scheme reiterated its commitment to ensuring a credible mobilisation process while prioritising the safety and security of all prospective corps members.