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Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) has rejected the Federal Ministry of Education’s proposed textbook ranking policy.
The Association warned that its implementation could create book shortages, increase costs, threaten jobs and undermine competition within Nigeria’s publishing industry.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Lagos Airport Hotel, on Wednesday, President of the association, Lukman Dauda, said the briefing was convened to present the facts surrounding the proposed policy and to ensure that education reform in Nigeria is pursued transparently, constitutionally and in a manner that promotes quality, fairness, accessibility and sustainability.
According to him, while the policy was presented as a measure to ensure learners have access to accurate, relevant and affordable educational materials, its central feature is the ranking of educational textbooks intended for use in basic and secondary schools.
The NPA said it carefully reviewed the proposal and, on April 28, 2026, issued a public statement rejecting the policy and calling for its immediate withdrawal over concerns relating to education, competition, publishing and constitutional governance.
Following the association’s public rejection of the proposal, NERDC, in a letter dated May 1, 2026, informed the NPA that it had been directed to engage stakeholders, particularly publishers, on the proposed policy. Another letter dated May 29 invited the association to a formal engagement at the council’s headquarters in Sheda, Abuja, on June 2.
Dauda said the association accepted the invitation and attended the meeting in the expectation that meaningful consultation would address concerns raised by stakeholders.
According to him, NERDC disclosed during the meeting that publishers would be required to submit books for assessment after paying prescribed fees, while books that scored at least 70 per cent would proceed to a second stage involving additional payments and eventual ranking.
The NPA, however, objected to the policy, arguing that the existing textbook evaluation and assessment system already provides a transparent and objective process that offers a level playing field for publishers.
“The current system of textbook evaluation and assessment conducted by NERDC has, over the years, provided a transparent and objective process that offers a level playing field for all publishers,” Dauda said.
He maintained that any shortcomings in the existing framework should be addressed by strengthening the current evaluation process rather than introducing a ranking system.
The association also argued that Nigeria’s educational environment differs significantly from countries where similar ranking systems have been adopted, noting that the country has about 60 million students, more than 200 active publishing firms and a population exceeding 220 million.
Dauda warned that the proposed ranking system could create a “winner-takes-all” publishing environment that would favour a few publishers at the expense of others, with potentially severe consequences for investment, employment and industry growth.
The NPA further noted that publishers are still adjusting to the implementation of the new national curriculum introduced less than a year ago, adding that some curriculum guides have yet to be released for textbook development, saying that an introduction of a ranking system at this stage could put many publishers unfairly disadvantage and disrupt efforts to align instructional materials with the new curriculum.
The publishers also warned of possible textbook shortages across the country, arguing that no small group of publishers could adequately meet nationwide demand within the implementation period proposed by NERDC.
Beyond educational concerns, the association questioned the constitutional basis of the policy, noting that education falls within the Concurrent Legislative List and raising concerns about whether the Federal Ministry of Education can effectively dictate textbook choices for state governments.
The NPA also criticised the financial implications of the proposed framework, alleging that publishers seeking approval across all curriculum subjects could spend more than N135 million on assessment and ranking fees.
According to Dauda, such charges contradict government claims that the policy is intended to make books more affordable and accessible to parents and students.
As an alternative, the association proposed that NERDC should strengthen the existing evaluation system and publish a list of textbooks that have successfully met prescribed standards rather than ranking them.
He said such an approach would preserve competition, encourage innovation, ensure quality assurance and allow schools and parents the freedom to choose from approved titles.
In an interview , Dauda also dismissed concerns that digital technology poses an existential threat to printed books, saying many young Nigerians continue to embrace physical books alongside digital formats.
Drawing from discussions at the 2026 Nigerian International Book Fair, he said members of Generation Z increasingly combine both print and digital reading depending on the content they wish to consume.
“The digital format of books can never displace the print, the paper book,” he said.
Dauda also attributed the decline of many public libraries to poor management and maintenance rather than a lack of books, stressing the need for greater commitment and accountability in the management of public facilities.
While reaffirming support for reforms aimed at improving educational standards and accountability, the NPA President urged the Federal Ministry of Education to reconsider the policy and engage stakeholders in developing solutions tailored to Nigeria’s educational realities.
“It is not too late for the Federal Ministry of Education to reconsider this policy,” he said, calling on state governments, educators, parents, authors, booksellers and school proprietors to support efforts to review the policy before irreversible damage is done to the publishing industry and the education sector.
