Publishers reject textbook ranking policy, fault N2,000 per-page fee

By Adesina Wahab

The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) has faulted the Federal Ministry of Education over a proposed policy to introduce ranking of educational textbooks, warning that it could destabilise the publishing industry and create a “winner-takes-all” system.

The association also rejected an increase in textbook assessment fees from N300 per page to N2,000 per page, describing the increment as excessive and capable of making books unaffordable for pupils and students.

Briefing journalists in Ikeja, Lagos, the NPA National President, Mr. Lukman Dauda, said the association had already opposed the policy in a statement issued on April 28, 2026, calling for its immediate withdrawal.

He said the proposed ranking system, introduced through the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), would distort fair competition in the education sector and undermine existing evaluation processes.

According to him, the current textbook assessment framework already provides a transparent and objective system that ensures a level playing field for publishers, adding that rather than introducing ranking, government should strengthen the existing mechanism.

Dauda warned that implementing such a policy in Nigeria, with over 60 million learners and more than 200 publishing houses, would be impractical and disruptive.

He noted that publishers were still adjusting to a recently introduced curriculum, adding that the absence of a proper transition period had already placed pressure on the sector.

The association also criticised what it described as the financial burden of the new policy, alleging that the combined cost of assessment and ranking would amount to about N135.57 million for a publisher covering all subjects across basic and senior secondary levels.

The NPA argued that such charges contradict the government’s stated goal of making educational materials more affordable, warning that the policy could increase the cost of textbooks and reduce access for students.

It further urged the Ministry of Education to clarify the rationale behind the reforms and ensure transparency in the implementation process.

The association called on policymakers, school operators, parents, and stakeholders to resist any policy that could negatively impact the availability and affordability of educational materials in the country.

The NPA also maintained that publishers have continued to absorb rising production costs in order to keep textbooks affordable, stressing that the real cost pressures often arise within distribution channels rather than at the publishing stage.

It urged the federal government to reconsider the proposed policy in the interest of access to quality education for Nigerian children.

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