The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced that prospective corps members (PCMs) must obtain clearance from the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) before they can participate in the national service programme.
The scheme also disclosed that some prospective corps members deployed to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos State for the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course would undergo their three-week orientation in neighbouring states due to accommodation constraints.
The announcements were contained in separate notices shared on the NYSC’s official X handle ahead of the commencement of the orientation exercise scheduled to begin on August 5.
According to the scheme, NERD clearance has become compulsory for all prospective corps members, warning that candidates who fail to obtain the clearance certificate would not be admitted into the orientation camp.
“This is to inform PCMs that without NERD clearance, no NYSC,” the scheme stated, urging graduates to obtain the clearance early to avoid delays in mobilisation.
It added that the requirement forms part of measures aimed at ensuring proper verification of graduates’ academic credentials before national service.
In a separate notice, the NYSC said some prospective corps members posted to the Federal Capital Territory would have their orientation exercise in camps located in Benue, Kaduna, Kano and Nasarawa states.
The scheme explained that the relocation affects only some of those deployed to the FCT, advising affected candidates to check their call-up letters for their designated orientation camps.
Similarly, the NYSC announced that some prospective corps members deployed to Lagos State would instead undertake their orientation course in Edo, Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo and Osun states.
Although the scheme did not state the reason for the temporary dislodgement, it advised affected corps members to report to the orientation camps indicated in their call-up letters for registration and participation in the exercise.
The development comes as the NYSC prepares to commence the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course nationwide on Wednesday, August 5, with registration expected to end at midnight on Friday, August 7, while the three-week exercise will conclude on August 25.
