The Federal Government of Nigeria has ended the plan to subsidize 50 kg bags of rice for N40,000 to civil servants.
The decision was made in 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 was addressed to Directors and Heads of Departments.
“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Affairs) of 1st August, 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the Internal Circular is hereby withdrawn.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,” the circular reads.
The previous memo from the Ministry, dated August 1, and signed by Mrs. Jaiyesim Abimbola Aderonke, Director of Human Resource Management, had outlined the procedure for civil servants to purchase the food item.
However, no reason was provided for withdrawal of the plan, which certainly will leave many civil servants who had registered for the subsidised rice in a state of uncertainty.
Chronicle NG reported that the initial plan was announced by the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, stating that the government intended to mitigate the effects of the current food crisis by offering 50 kg of rice at a subsidised rate to civil servants in Abuja.
