Publishers oppose N2,000 per-page fee and textbook ranking plan

The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) has rejected a proposed N2,000 per-page assessment fee and a new textbook ranking system introduced by the Federal Ministry of Education through the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC). NPA national president Lukman Dauda said the association formally opposed the policy in a statement released on April 28, 2026, calling for its immediate withdrawal. He argued that the ranking system would distort fair competition, undermine the current textbook evaluation framework, and create a "winner-takes-all" environment in the publishing sector.

Dauda stressed that the existing textbook assessment process already ensures transparency and equal opportunity for publishers, and called for strengthening it instead of introducing a new ranking mechanism. He described the proposed N2,000 per-page charge as excessive, noting it would raise production costs significantly. The association estimated that full subject coverage across basic and senior secondary levels could cost publishers about N135.57 million in assessment and ranking fees.

The NPA warned the policy could make textbooks unaffordable, reduce access for students, and discourage investment in educational publishing. It highlighted that publishers have continued absorbing rising production costs to maintain affordability, with major cost pressures occurring in distribution rather than at the publishing stage. The association urged the ministry to clarify the rationale behind the reforms and ensure transparency in implementation. It also called on education stakeholders, including school operators and parents, to resist policies that threaten the availability and affordability of learning materials.

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