The Federal Government has halted its plan to sell subsidized 50kg bags of rice to civil servants for N40,000, citing no reason for the sudden withdrawal.
The decision was conveyed 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, 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Affairs) of 1st August, 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the Internal Circular is hereby withdrawn.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.”
This development has left many civil servants who had registered for the subsidized rice in a state of uncertainty. The initial plan, announced by the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, aimed to alleviate the effects of the current food crisis by offering 50kg bags of rice at a subsidized rate to civil servants in Abuja.
