By Peace Erewunmi

The Federal Government has approved a reduction in textbook assessment and ranking fees, providing relief for publishers and authors ahead of the implementation of the National Textbook Ranking System scheduled to commence in September 2026. The decision is aimed at easing the financial burden on stakeholders in the publishing industry while encouraging wider participation in the new evaluation process.

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) announced that the assessment fee has been reduced from ₦2,000 to ₦1,500 per page, while the ranking fee has been reviewed downward from ₦1 million to ₦750,000 per textbook title. The revised charges take immediate effect.

NERDC also directed that publishers who had already paid the previous assessment fee should be refunded the excess amount. The Council said details of the refund process would be communicated to affected publishers in due course.

According to the Federal Ministry of Education, the fee reduction is intended to make compliance with the National Textbook Ranking System more affordable while maintaining high standards for instructional materials used in Nigerian schools. Under the new policy, only textbooks that have been assessed, approved and nationally ranked by NERDC will be authorised for classroom use from September 2026.

The government urged publishers, authors and other stakeholders in the book industry to comply with the revised fee structure, reaffirming its commitment to improving the quality of educational materials while supporting the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s publishing sector.