Nigeria Govt withdraws plan to sell discounted rice to civil servants

The Federal Government of Nigeria has put on hold its plan to offer subsidized 50kg bags of rice to civil servants at a price of N40,000 each.

This was contained in a statement titled “Withdrawal of Internal Circular on Sale of Subsidized Rice to Public Servants.”

The circular, signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs (Human Resources Management Department) was addressed to Directors and Heads of Departments, the Leadership newspaper reports.

The circular reads, “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Affairs) of 1st August, 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the Internal Circular is hereby withdrawn.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 move was contrary to the earlier outlined procedure for civil servants to purchase the rice in a statement dated August 1, and signed by Mrs Jaiyesim Abimbola Aderonke, Director of Human Resource Management.

The withdrawal of the plan, without any explanation, has put many civil servants who had registered for the subsidized rice in a difficult position, leaving them wondering what will happen next.