The Federal Government has announced a 25 percent reduction in textbook assessment and ranking fees as preparations continue for the launch of the National Textbook Ranking System in September 2026.
The development was announced by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), which said the decision is aimed at easing financial pressure on publishers and authors while encouraging greater participation in the new textbook evaluation process.
According to NERDC, 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 Council also disclosed that publishers who had already paid the previous assessment fee would receive refunds for the excess amount, with details of the refund process to be communicated later.
“The revised fees take immediate effect, and all stakeholders in the book industry are expected to comply accordingly,” NERDC stated.
The new fee structure is part of the Federal Government’s preparations for the implementation of the National Textbook Ranking System, an education reform introduced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa.
Under the policy, which takes effect in September 2026, only textbooks that have been assessed, approved and nationally ranked by NERDC will be authorised for use in Nigerian schools.
The government said the initiative is designed to eliminate substandard and duplicated textbooks while ensuring that schools use high-quality learning materials that align with the national curriculum.
NERDC explained that approval alone will no longer be enough for textbooks to be used in classrooms. Every approved book will undergo a detailed evaluation by expert panels, which will assess its content quality, curriculum alignment, accuracy, teaching value and overall suitability before assigning a national ranking.
The Council added that the ranking system will help schools, teachers, parents and education administrators make informed decisions when selecting textbooks for students.
