Publishers Condemn 300% Hike in Textbook Fees in Nigeria

The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) expressed strong criticism regarding the federal government's proposed textbook ranking policy and a significant 300% increase in assessment fees, which would rise from N500 to N2,000 per page, alongside an additional charge of N1 million per subject. NPA President Lukman Dauda stated that the new fees, set to commence with a preliminary assessment exercise on June 8, 2026, would impose a heavy financial burden on the publishing industry, potentially affecting the affordability of textbooks for parents.

Dauda argued that the policy aims to ensure learners have access to accurate and relevant educational materials but warned it could commercialize education and weaken standards. He emphasized that the ranking framework, modeled after foreign jurisdictions with significantly smaller demographics, is incompatible with Nigeria's educational ecosystem, which includes approximately 60 million students and 200 active publishing firms.

The NPA called for immediate review of the policy to prevent detrimental impacts on the nation's academic sector.