Publishers reject FG textbook ranking, warn of price hike

The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) has voiced strong opposition to the Federal Government's new National Textbook Ranking System, warning that the policy could significantly increase textbook costs, stifle competition, and lead to shortages of essential instructional materials nationwide.

NPA President Lukman Dauda questioned the transparency of the proposed ranking framework, accusing authorities of introducing a policy that could "commercialize access to educational materials." He cautioned that implementing the system could disrupt the education sector and weaken market competition among publishers, potentially causing "an unprecedented scarcity of instructional materials nationwide."

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If the policy is being followed through, it will disrupt the nation’s academic sector, stifle market competition and precipitate an unprecedented scarcity of instructional materials nationwide.

The Federal Government announced the ranking system in April, aiming to enhance quality assurance and standardization. Ministers of Education stated the initiative seeks to address the proliferation of textbooks and ensure only high-quality, curriculum-compliant materials are approved. Under the policy, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will rank textbooks through expert committees, approving a limited number for each subject to improve quality control and align with international standards.

However, publishers are also concerned about a sharp increase in textbook assessment fees. Dauda highlighted that fees have risen from N500 to N2,000 per page, with an additional N1 million charge per subject for ranking. He argued these charges would significantly raise the cost of doing business, ultimately passed on to parents and learners, and urged the ministry to clarify the "real intentions behind this unpopular experiment."

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How will such charges bring down the cost of books and make them affordable to parents? We urge the Federal Ministry of Education to come out clean on the real intentions behind this unpopular experiment.