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NYSC declares National Electronic Registration Database (NERD) clearance mandatory, warning that no prospective corps member will be mobilised without completing the verification process.
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Scheme urges eligible graduates to obtain the required clearance early as mobilisation begins for the 2026 Batch ‘B’ service year to avoid delays or disqualification.
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Directive comes alongside the ongoing nationwide mobilisation exercise, with tertiary institutions expected to complete documentation and upload eligible graduates for service.
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NYSC also renews its safety warning, advising prospective corps members against night travel to orientation camps amid persistent security concerns on Nigerian highways.
August 03, (THEWILL) — The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has introduced a tougher verification requirement for prospective corps members, declaring that no graduate will be mobilised for the mandatory national service without obtaining clearance from the National Electronic Registration Database (NERD).
THEWILL reports that the latest directive marks another significant step by the scheme to strengthen the credibility of its mobilisation process while ensuring that only duly verified graduates are enrolled for national service.
The warning was contained in a public notice published on the NYSC’s official X account on Monday, where the scheme urged all prospective corps members to complete the mandatory NERD clearance well ahead of the mobilisation exercise to avoid unnecessary delays.
Although the NYSC did not provide further details on how the clearance process would be conducted, the announcement signals the introduction of a stricter verification regime as preparations intensify for the next orientation programme.
According to the scheme, compliance with the NERD clearance requirement is now a compulsory condition for mobilisation, underscoring its determination to enhance transparency, eliminate irregularities, and ensure that only qualified graduates are enlisted for national service.
The advisory comes just hours after the NYSC announced the commencement of mobilisation activities for the 2026 Batch ‘B’ service year, directing tertiary institutions and eligible graduates to conclude all documentation, registration and verification processes before the orientation exercise begins.
The latest verification requirement is expected to affect thousands of prospective corps members across the country, making early compliance critical for successful mobilisation.
Safety Advisory Reinforced Ahead of Orientation
Beyond tightening its verification procedures, the NYSC has continued to place strong emphasis on the safety of prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps nationwide.
In a separate advisory issued recently, the scheme cautioned prospective corps members against embarking on night journeys due to the security risks on many highways across the country.
Instead, the NYSC advised travellers to break their journeys whenever necessary and lodge in safe locations or designated military and other security formations where available, rather than continue travelling after dark.
The renewed advisories demonstrate the scheme’s dual focus on protecting the integrity of its mobilisation process while safeguarding the welfare and security of prospective corps members.
Established in 1973, the National Youth Service Corps was created to foster national unity and integration by deploying Nigerian graduates to states outside their places of origin for one year of compulsory national service.
In recent years, the scheme has progressively strengthened its digital registration and verification systems to combat identity fraud, eliminate multiple registrations and improve the credibility of its mobilisation process.
The compulsory National Electronic Registration Database (NERD) clearance represents the latest layer of verification to ensure that only properly documented and eligible graduates are mobilised.
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