The Nigerian federal government’s initiative to sell 50kg bags of rice to civil servants at a subsidized price of N40,000 has been unexpectedly stopped. This plan was aimed at easing the burden of the ongoing food crisis in the country, especially for government employees.
Initially, the proposal was widely reported online and confirmed through an official notice from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, specifically from the Human Resources Management Department. The notice, titled ‘Withdrawal of Internal Circular on Sale of Subsidized Rice to Public Servants,’ was sent to Directors and Heads of Departments across the civil service.
The notice highlighted that the previous communication, issued on August 1, 2024, regarding the sale of rice, was no longer valid. It instructed department heads to inform their staff of the decision, although it did not provide any reasons for this sudden change. The circular assured that further details would be provided later but emphasized that the earlier plan was officially withdrawn.
The original plan, announced by the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, aimed to support civil servants in Abuja by offering them affordable rice to help with the high cost of living. Many civil servants had already shown interest and registered for this benefit, but with the new directive, their expectations have been put on hold without a clear explanation.
