The Federal Government has announced the cancellation of its plan to sell subsidized 50-kilogram bags of rice to civil servants for N40,000. This decision was communicated via 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, directed at 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Affairs) of 1st August, 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the Internal Circular is hereby withdrawn.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 explanation was provided for the sudden halt in the plan, leaving many civil servants who had registered for the subsidized rice uncertain about the next steps. The initial plan, announced by Minister of Information Idris Mohammed, aimed to alleviate the impact of the current food crisis by offering subsidized rice to civil servants in Abuja.
A previous memo dated August 1 signed by Mrs. Jaiyesim Abimbola Aderonke, Director of Human Resource Management, had detailed the procedure for purchasing the rice. It included information that each staff member could buy one bag and needed to complete a Google form on the OHCSF website and submit it for HR endorsement. Payment and distribution were to be managed by designated officials, with oversight from the Chairman of the Joint Union Council of the Ministry to ensure transparency.
“As part of federal government’s efforts to alleviate the current food crisis in the country and its effects on the general population, I am directed to inform you that 50kg bags of rice will be sold at subsidized rate of Thousands Naira (N40,000) only per bag to interested public servants in Abuja,” the memo stated. “For effective implementation, all interested staff are required to complete a Google form on the OHCSF website. Print and submit some to Director HR for endorsement payment and distribution of the rice will be coordinated by designated officials while the chairman, Joint Union Council of the Ministry is required to serve as an observer during the period of the exercise for the purpose of transparency.”
The initiative, as earlier announced by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, was intended to start with civil servants before being extended to the general public. This plan was part of a broader government’s effort to combat rising food inflation, which stood at 40.87% year-on-year as of June 2024, according to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The government has also implemented other measures, such as releasing grains from reserves and donating fertilizers to farmers, to address the food crisis.
Despite these efforts, food prices continue to rise across the country, driven by increases in the cost of millet flour, garri, bread, prepackaged wheat flour, and semovita. The withdrawal of the rice subsidy plan adds another layer of complexity to the federal government’s attempts to stabilize food prices and provide relief to citizens.
