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By Emmanuel Adeleke
The Federal Government has suspended the plan to sell subsidised N40,000 50kg bags of rice to civil servants.
A circular titled, ‘Withdrawal of Internal Circular on Sale of Subsidised Rice to Public Servants,’ signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs (Human Resources Management Department), and addressed to Directors and Heads of Departments, read: “I am directed to refer to our internal circular in the Ministry (Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs) of August 1, 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the internal circular is hereby withdrawn.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.”
The previous memo from the ministry, dated August 1, and signed by the Director of Human Resource Management, Mrs Jaiyesimi Aderonke, had outlined the procedure for civil servants to purchase the rice.
However, no reason was provided for the withdrawal of the plan.
Recall that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had stated that government intends to mitigate the effects of the current food crisis by offering 50kg bags of rice at a subsidised rate to Nigerians.
