The Federal Government has reduced the recently introduced textbook assessment fees and directed that publishers who had already paid the previous charges be refunded.

The decision comes after concerns raised by stakeholders in the publishing industry over the high cost of the new assessment regime, with fears that the increased fees would drive up the price of textbooks and place additional financial pressure on publishers.

Under the new directive, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) has been instructed to implement the revised fee structure and process refunds for publishers who made payments under the earlier rates.

The move is expected to ease the financial burden on publishers, encourage wider participation in the textbook evaluation process, and help keep educational materials affordable for schools, students, and parents.

The policy reversal follows engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and key stakeholders, reflecting the government’s commitment to balancing quality assurance in textbook approval with the need to support Nigeria’s education and publishing sectors.