PUBLISHERS ASK COURT TO SUSPEND NERDC TEXTBOOK RANKING POLICY
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By; Sunmola Ganiyat
The Nigerian Publishers Association has approached the Federal High Court in Ibadan, seeking to stop the implementation of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council’s new textbook ranking policy.
The association is challenging NERDC’s authority to subject textbooks that have already been assessed, approved and certified for use to another mandatory ranking exercise.
The suit, marked FHC/IB/CS/117/26, names NERDC, the Minister of Education and the Attorney-General of the Federation among the defendants.
The NPA is also contesting the compulsory fee attached to the ranking exercise and asking the court to determine whether regulations introduced under the NERDC Act can take effect without the required presidential approval and publication in the Federal Gazette.
According to the publishers, the central issue is whether NERDC has the legal authority to compel publishers to resubmit previously approved textbooks for ranking before they can continue to be used, distributed, procured or sold.
The association said it was particularly concerned about the consequences for publishers who fail to participate in the exercise, noting that previously approved textbooks could be removed from classroom use.
NERDC introduced the ranking framework as part of efforts to regulate textbook quality and ensure that instructional materials used in schools meet prescribed standards and conform to the national curriculum.
However, the policy has generated concerns within the publishing industry over the additional financial burden on publishers and the requirement that ranking must be completed for textbooks that have already undergone an approval process.
Following complaints from publishers, NERDC recently reduced the textbook assessment fee from N2,000 to N1,500 per page, while the ranking fee was reduced from N1 million to N750,000 per title.
The council also announced arrangements for refunds to publishers who had paid the earlier assessment rate.
Through the court action, the NPA is seeking judicial clarification on the legality of the ranking requirement, compulsory participation and the fees imposed under the policy.
The association, however, said its decision to approach the court did not mean it had abandoned negotiations with the Federal Government.
“The court action does not rule out further dialogue with the Federal Government,” the NPA said.
The publishers added that they remained committed to working with the government and other stakeholders towards a textbook approval system that is lawful, transparent and beneficial to learners, teachers and the publishing industry.
The case is expected to provide legal clarity on NERDC’s authority to impose additional requirements on textbooks that have already received approval, as well as the legal basis for the fees and conditions attached to the ranking process.
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