The Federal Government of Nigeria has inaugurated a High Level Standing Committee on Book Ranking and Selection in a major move to reform the textbook approval system and improve the quality of learning materials used in schools across the country.
The committee was inaugurated in Abuja on Monday, January 19, 2026, by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, who described the initiative as a decisive step toward fixing deep rooted flaws in the nation’s textbook approval process.
Alausa said the current system allows textbooks to gain approval without proper validation or comparative ranking, a situation that has resulted in an excessive number of approved books for single subjects. In some cases, he noted, schools are presented with as many as 50 approved textbooks for one subject, with no clear standard for quality or relevance.
According to the minister, the absence of proper ranking and standardisation has encouraged inconsistencies in learning content, placed heavy financial pressure on parents, and enabled exploitative pricing practices within the publishing industry. He stressed that the reform is designed to protect learners and families while restoring credibility to the education system.
He explained that the new committee will introduce objective and transparent evaluation methods, limit the number of approved textbooks per subject, and enforce strict quality benchmarks that align fully with the national curriculum. The reforms will also focus on ensuring that new textbook editions reflect genuine content improvement rather than cosmetic changes.
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Alausa added that the committee will also examine pricing practices in the textbook market, with the aim of promoting transparency and discouraging frequent replacement of books. He disclosed that the government is considering policies that would set a minimum usage period for approved textbooks, potentially up to three years, to reduce unnecessary costs for parents.
The committee is chaired by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, and includes representatives from key education agencies such as the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, the Universal Basic Education Commission, the National Teachers’ Institute, and the National Senior Secondary Education Commission.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the development, describing it as a timely intervention that could streamline textbook selection, eliminate substandard and repetitive materials, and improve learning outcomes nationwide. Many believe the reform will also ease the burden on families who are often compelled to purchase multiple textbooks for the same subject.
The Federal Government said the committee’s recommendations will guide future policies on instructional materials at primary and secondary school levels, with possible implications for tertiary education. The initiative aligns with the education reform agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, which prioritises quality, accountability, and cost reduction for Nigerian households.
The Ministry of Education is expected to release further details on the committee’s work plan, timeline, and deliverables in the coming weeks.
