Danjuma Amodu | January 10, 2026
The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled a comprehensive nationwide policy framework aimed at slashing education expenses for families, enhance learning outcomes, and champion environmental sustainability through the adoption of reusable, high-quality textbooks and strengthened quality assurance mechanisms.
The policy framework, jointly announced by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suiwaba Sai’d, forms a cornerstone of ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s education sector and easing the financial burden on households.
The Ministers explained that under the initiative, schools will transition to standardised, durable textbooks built to last between four and six years, explicitly prohibiting the inclusion of disposable workbooks that render materials unusable after a single academic session.
This shift enables siblings to share textbooks, dramatically reducing recurring expenses for parents while cutting down waste generated by discarded learning materials, aligning with global sustainability goals.
“By moving to reusable textbooks, we’re not just saving money, but investing in smarter, greener education,” said Dr. Alausa.
“This policy ensures that every naira spent delivers lasting value.”
In addition to textbook reforms, the Federal Government has rolled out a uniform academic calendar nationwide to ensure consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning.
Also, graduation ceremonies have also been streamlined to only pupils completing Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) will be permitted to hold formal graduation events. This move is designed to curb excessive spending and relieve financial pressure on families.
The policy introduces structured revision cycles requiring substantive content updates rather than superficial layout tweaks, extending the useful life of approved textbooks and delivering better value for money. It also limits the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level, mirroring successful models in countries like Japan, Kenya, and Tanzania to improve quality, reduce market clutter, and simplify selection processes for schools.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) remains at the forefront of assessing and approving instructional materials, working hand-in-hand with education agencies to guarantee that only curriculum aligned, high-calibre textbooks reach classrooms across the nation.
“Our goal is simple, make education affordable, effective, and sustainable,” stated Prof. Sai’d.
“This policy addresses long-standing frustrations, frequent, cosmetic textbook revisions, weak quality controls, and the pressure to buy new books yearly without real improvements.”
The Federal Ministry of Education praised the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), NERDC, and other technical partners for their pivotal roles in shaping this transformative framework.
The Government reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting educational standards, promoting equity, lowering costs for parents, and ensuring Nigerian learners access quality instructional materials that drive real learning outcomes.
