The Federal Government has reduced the fees charged for textbook assessment and ranking under the National Textbook Ranking System and directed that publishers who paid the previous rates be refunded.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) announced the decision in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Salisu Shehu.
Under the revised fee structure, the assessment fee has been reduced from ₦2,000 to ₦1,500 per page, while the ranking fee has been lowered from ₦1 million to ₦750,000 per textbook title. The new rates take immediate effect.
NERDC said the reduction is intended to ease the financial burden on publishers and authors as the government prepares for the full implementation of the National Textbook Ranking System.
Publishers who had already paid the former assessment fee of ₦2,000 per page will receive refunds for the excess amount paid. The Council said details of the refund process will be announced later.
All publishers and authors submitting textbooks for assessment have been directed to comply with the revised fees immediately.
The National Textbook Ranking System is a Federal Government education reform introduced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to improve the quality of instructional materials used in Nigerian schools.
From September 2026, only textbooks that have been assessed, approved and ranked by NERDC will be authorised for classroom use nationwide. Textbooks that do not meet these requirements will not be permitted in schools.
According to the Ministry of Education, the policy is designed to improve quality assurance in educational publishing and ensure that students and teachers have access to curriculum-compliant learning materials.
NERDC explained that textbook approval alone will no longer be sufficient. Every approved title will undergo a national evaluation and ranking process conducted by expert committees before it is recommended for use in schools.
The textbook ranking policy is part of broader education reforms aimed at strengthening standards in basic and secondary education across the country.
