NYSC introduces mandatory NERD clearance for corps mobilisation

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has made National Electronic Registration Database (NERD) clearance a compulsory requirement for prospective corps members seeking mobilisation for national service.

The directive, announced on the scheme’s official X handle on Monday, means eligible graduates who fail to obtain the clearance will not be mobilised for the next service year.

The development comes as the NYSC intensifies preparations for the 2026 Batch ‘B’ mobilisation exercise and tightens its verification process for prospective corps members.

In the advisory, the scheme urged eligible graduates to complete the clearance process ahead of time to avoid delays in their mobilisation.

“This is to inform Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) that without NERD clearance, no NYSC. Get your NERD clearance early. Avoid delays in your mobilisation,” the statement read.

Reinforcing the directive, the agency added: “NERD clearance is compulsory for all PCMs. No NERD clearance, No NYSC!!!”

Although the NYSC did not outline the procedures for obtaining the clearance, the latest requirement signals a more stringent screening process ahead of the forthcoming orientation exercise.

The announcement follows the recent commencement of mobilisation activities for the 2026 Batch ‘B’ service year, with the scheme urging tertiary institutions and eligible graduates to complete all necessary documentation before deployment.

It also comes days after the NYSC cautioned prospective corps members against travelling at night to orientation camps, advising them to break their journeys where necessary and lodge in safe locations or designated military and security formations instead of risking overnight travel.

The scheme said the measures are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the credibility of its mobilisation process while enhancing the safety of corps members amid prevailing security concerns across the country.