FG Slashes Textbook Assessment Fees, Orders Refunds

The Federal Government has reduced the fees charged for textbook assessment and ranking in Nigeria, while also directing that publishers who paid the previous rates be refunded.

The development was announced by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) as part of efforts to support publishers and other stakeholders ahead of the commencement of the National Textbook Ranking System.

This decision was disclosed in Abuja through a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof. Salisu Shehu.

According to the council, the assessment fee has been reduced from N2,000 to N1,500 per page. The ranking fee for textbooks has also been lowered from N1 million to N750,000 per title.

NERDC said the new charges take immediate effect and are expected to ease the financial burden on publishers and authors participating in the government’s textbook evaluation process.

The council further directed that publishers who had already paid the former assessment fee would receive refunds for the excess amount paid.

According to the statement, “Publishers who had already paid the previous assessment fee of N2,000 per page will receive refunds of the excess payment, while the procedure for processing the refunds will be announced soon.”

NERDC explained that all new submissions for textbook assessment should be processed using the revised rates. It urged publishers, authors and other stakeholders in the education sector to comply with the new fee structure.

The reduction comes as preparations intensify for the implementation of the National Textbook Ranking System, a major education reform introduced by the Federal Ministry of Education.

The policy is expected to take effect from September 2026 and will significantly change how textbooks are approved and used in schools across the country.

Under the new framework, only textbooks that have been assessed, approved and ranked by NERDC will be recommended for use in classrooms. Textbooks that fail to obtain ranking status will not be permitted for use in schools.

Education authorities say the initiative is aimed at improving the quality of learning materials available to pupils and students nationwide.

The government believes the reform will address concerns over the circulation of poorly produced and outdated textbooks, while promoting the use of materials that align with the national curriculum.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had earlier stated that the policy was designed to ensure that Nigerian learners have access to quality instructional materials that meet approved educational standards.

He explained that textbook approval alone would no longer be enough under the new arrangement.

According to him, every approved textbook would be subjected to a detailed national assessment and ranking process conducted by expert panels before it can be recommended for classroom use.

The ministry said the ranking system would create a transparent process for evaluating educational materials and encourage publishers to maintain high standards in content development and production.

Officials also noted that the reform is expected to strengthen quality assurance within the education sector and improve confidence in the books being used by teachers and students.

The National Textbook Ranking System forms part of broader education reforms being implemented by the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

In recent months, the ministry has rolled out several initiatives targeted at improving learning outcomes across the country.

These include nationwide learning assessments, the revitalisation of e-library facilities in Unity Colleges, expansion of digital learning infrastructure and measures aimed at reducing learning poverty among school-age children.

According to the Nigerian Government figures, it estimates that millions of Nigerian children still face challenges in acquiring basic literacy and numeracy skills, a situation authorities say requires urgent intervention.