FG Cuts Textbook Assessment Fees, Orders Refunds For Publishers

The Federal Government has reduced textbook assessment and ranking fees ahead of the planned National Textbook Ranking System and directed refunds for publishers who had already paid the higher charges.

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council announced the review on Wednesday in a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Salisu Shehu.

Under the new rates, the assessment fee drops from N2,000 to N1,500 per page, while the ranking fee falls from N1 million to N750,000 per textbook title. Punch, Vanguard and Channels TV all reported the same fee changes.

The council said the reduction was meant to ease the financial burden on publishers and authors as the ranking system moves toward implementation. Punch reported that publishers who had already paid the former rates are to receive refunds.

The National Textbook Ranking System is expected to guide the assessment and ranking of books used in schools. The council said publishers and authors submitting books for assessment should make payments through the official process.

Sources: Punch, Vanguard, Channels TV