The Federal Government has announced the withdrawal of its plan to sell subsidised 50-kilogram bags of rice to civil servants for N40,000.
The decision was communicated through a circular titled, “Withdrawal of Internal Circular on Sale of Subsidized Rice to Public Servants,” signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs (Human Resources Management Department).
The circular, addressed to Directors and Heads of Departments, stated, “I am directed to refer to our internal circular in the Ministry (Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs) of 1st August, 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the Internal Circular is hereby withdrawn. Further details will be communicated in due course. Please bring the contents of this internal circular to the attention of staff in your respective Departments and Units for their information and proper guidance.”
No reason was provided for the abrupt halt in the plan, leaving many civil servants who had registered for the subsidised rice in a state of uncertainty. The initial plan was announced by the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, who stated that the federal government intended to mitigate the effects of the current food crisis by offering 50kg bags of rice at a subsidised rate to civil servants in Abuja.
