The Federal Government has reduced the fees charged for textbook assessment and ranking under the National Textbook Ranking System, while directing that publishers who previously paid the higher rates be refunded. The move is aimed at easing the financial burden on publishers and authors ahead of the full implementation of the new textbook evaluation policy.
The decision was announced by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Salisu Shehu. Under the revised structure, the assessment fee has been reduced from ₦2,000 to ₦1,500 per page, while the ranking fee has been cut from ₦1 million to ₦750,000 per textbook title. The new rates take immediate effect.
Prof. Shehu also disclosed that publishers who had already paid the previous assessment fee of ₦2,000 per page would receive refunds for the excess amount. He said details of the refund process would be communicated in due course and urged publishers and authors to make future payments based on the revised fee schedule.
The fee reduction follows concerns raised by stakeholders in the publishing industry, who argued that the earlier charges were excessive and could increase the cost of textbooks for schools, students and parents. The government said the review reflects its commitment to balancing quality assurance with affordability and supporting the growth of Nigeria’s education and publishing sectors.
The National Textbook Ranking System, introduced by the Federal Ministry of Education, is expected to take effect from September 2026. Under the policy, only textbooks that have been assessed, approved and ranked by NERDC will be permitted for use in Nigerian classrooms, as part of broader efforts to improve the quality and curriculum compliance of instructional materials nationwide.
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