FG Insists on Thesis Submission as Condition for NYSC Mobilisation
By Ekanem Asuquo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a new policy that makes thesis submission a compulsory requirement for all graduates seeking mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The directive, communicated through a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, invokes Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act. It stipulates that no graduate from Nigerian or foreign institutions will be mobilised or exempted from service without proof of compliance with the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD).
Effective from October 6, the policy requires graduates to upload their academic outputs, including theses and project reports, into the national database. The initiative aims to strengthen quality assurance in tertiary institutions, curb certificate racketeering, and safeguard Nigeria’s intellectual assets.
According to Section 6.1.23 of the policy, the requirement provides independent yearly proof of academic enrolment and creates a permanent digital record of research and scholarship.
Earlier in March, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, explained that the directive applies to all higher institutions regardless of ownership, including universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, nursing schools, and specialised research institutes.
The circular also unveiled an academic output monetisation scheme approved by the President, which allows students and supervisors to earn lifetime royalties from their deposited works.
NERD spokesperson, Haula Galadima, said each submission will display the names of the student, supervisor, co-supervisor if any, and Head of Department, alongside the institution. She added that the system will boost accountability and raise academic supervision standards.
“Once lecturers know their names will appear alongside their students’ works on a publicly accessible platform, they will be motivated to maintain high supervision standards,” Galadima noted.
The directive, however, exempts corps members already in service and those mobilised before the October 6 enforcement date.
