The Nigerian government’s recent decision to suspend the sale of subsidized rice has caused widespread discontent among civil servants in Abuja.
This comes as the Federal Government (FG) had launched a scheme aimed at making food more affordable for Nigerians by selling 50kg bags of rice at a subsidized rate of N40,000. The program, which had initially sparked enthusiasm among workers, was abruptly put on hold without prior notice, leaving many who had registered for the rice disappointed and uncertain about what would happen next.
The sale of subsidized rice began with great promise, as the government announced that it would sell 30,000 metric tonnes of rice to Nigerians at a lower cost. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Abubakar Kyari, launched the initiative, emphasizing that it was part of the government’s effort to reduce the soaring cost of food items in the country.
The scheme, however, was short-lived. For over a week, officials at various registration points across the capital registered civil servants for the subsidized rice. But soon after, the registration points were mysteriously vacated, and no communication was issued to clarify the situation. Civil servants, many of whom had queued up for hours or even days to register, expressed their disappointment and frustration.
Civil Servants Express Concerns
Mrs. Mary Nwachukwu, a civil servant, shared her concerns with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). “I was encouraged to come to the registration unit at the secretariat, only for me to be told that the whole thing has been suspended,” she lamented. “Nobody knows what may happen next and if the scheme will still continue.”
Similarly, Mrs. Kudirat Muktah expressed her frustration, saying she had delayed registering due to the initial rush but was disappointed when she finally decided to act. “I was here for two days to get my name registered, but because of the huge crowd, I decided to wait until it eases off, only to be told now that the exercise has been suspended,” she said.
Mr. Sylvester Edwards also decried the government’s decision, stating that after spending two days trying to get his name written down, he was left empty-handed. “Although we heard that the rice will be accessed through another method, we cannot trust this government,” he stated. “The palliative rice will, to some extent, ease the burden of hunger, so it is important for the government to bring it back.”
Reasons for the Suspension
According to insiders, the sudden suspension of the rice distribution was caused by the chaotic scenes at the registration points. A source from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, speaking anonymously, revealed that the chaotic nature of the registration process disrupted normal activities within the office premises. “People could no longer attend to work in their offices as a result of this exercise,” the source said, explaining the reason behind the abrupt suspension.
The source further disclosed that the scheme is managed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), contrary to the speculation that it was under the purview of the civil service. The source mentioned that the plan now is to decentralize the distribution process to ease the pressure on the initial registration units. Under the new system, ministries and government agencies will handle the distribution directly, and civil servants will register within their respective ministries.
According to the insider, ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) will be in charge of registering their employees and distributing the rice. This, it is believed, will help to avoid the chaos and confusion that characterized the earlier phase of the program.
The insider encouraged civil servants to stay updated with information from their respective ministries about the new payment and distribution method. The goal is to make the process smoother and more accessible to all government workers without disrupting the normal functioning of offices.
While the government works to improve the distribution method, many workers remain skeptical about the continuity of the scheme. The uncertainty surrounding the suspension has led to calls for greater transparency from the government. Workers believe that better communication and an efficient distribution method will prevent the confusion that occurred in the initial phase.
“The government needs to be clear about what is happening,” one civil servant remarked. “They shouldn’t leave us in the dark, especially when it involves something as important as food.”
The civil servants of Abuja and other parts of the country wait, hoping that the government will soon provide clarity on the status of the subsidized rice and that a more efficient system will be put in place to avoid the challenges witnessed in the initial rollout.
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