Previously, a memo dated August 1 and signed by Mrs. Jaiyesim Abimbola Aderonke, Director of Human Resource Management, detailed the procedure for purchasing the 50kg bag of rice.
The Federal Government has halted its plan to sell 50kg bags of rice to civil servants at a subsidized rate of N40,000.
The suspension was announced in a circular signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, withdrawing the internal circular of August 1, 2024.
The sudden cancellation has left many civil servants, who had registered for the subsidized rice, uncertain about their benefits. The plan was initially announced by Minister of Information Idris Mohammed to alleviate the impact of the food crisis by offering the rice at a reduced price to civil servants in Abuja.
Previously, a memo dated August 1 and signed by Mrs. Jaiyesim Abimbola Aderonke, Director of Human Resource Management, detailed the procedure for purchasing the 50kg bag of rice.
Staff were instructed to complete a Google form on the OHCSF website and submit it for endorsement. Payment and distribution were to be managed by designated officials, with oversight by the Chairman of the Joint Union Council of the Ministry to ensure transparency.
Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, had announced that the rice sale was the first phase of a broader initiative to address rising food inflation, which reached 40.87% year-on-year in June 2024, according to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics. The government has also been releasing grains from reserves and donating fertilizers to farmers as part of its strategy to combat the food crisis.
Despite these measures, food prices continue to climb, affecting staples such as millet flour, garri, bread, prepackaged wheat flour, and semovita. The suspension of the rice subsidy adds further complexity to the government’s efforts to stabilize food prices and provide relief to the public.
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