Relief for Nigerian publishers! The Federal Government has just cut the cost of textbook assessment and announced refunds for those who already paid the old rate.

If you are in the publishing space, this one will interest you. The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, has officially reduced its textbook assessment and ranking fees.

In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Salisu Shehu, and released on Wednesday in Abuja, the Council confirmed that the assessment fee has now dropped from N2,000 to N1,500 per page. The ranking fee per textbook title has also been reviewed downwards from N1 million to N750,000.

And it gets better. For publishers who had already paid the old N2,000 per page charge, NERDC says you will be refunded. The Council noted that the procedure for processing the refunds will be announced soon, but the new rates take immediate effect.

So why the cut? It is all in preparation for the Federal Government’s new National Textbook Ranking System, championed by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.

From September 2026, only textbooks that have been assessed, approved and ranked by NERDC will be allowed in our classrooms. Unranked books will be out. According to the Minister, the idea is to stop the circulation of substandard textbooks and ensure learners and teachers are working with only high-quality, curriculum-compliant materials.

This textbook reform is part of the bigger education overhaul under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which also includes nationwide learning assessments, revived e-libraries in Unity Colleges, and fresh efforts to tackle learning poverty affecting about 42 million children.

Credit: cbinews.tv

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