Nigerian Govt Withdraws Plan To Sell 50Kg Rice For Public Servants At N40,000

The Nigerian federal government has withdrawn its plan to sell subsidised 50 kilogrammes of rice to public servants at N40,000 without stating its reason for the retraction.

It will be recalled that at the commencement of the nationwide hunger protest on August 1, the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs’ Human Resources Management Department announced its intention to alleviate the situation, stating the subsidised sale of bags of rice.

As obtained by THISDAY, it was titled: “RE: SALE OF SUBSIDISED RICE TO PUBLIC SERVANTS.

“As part of the 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 a subsidised rate of Forty Thousand Naira (N40,000) only per bag to interested public servants in Abuja.

“For effective implementation, all interested staff must complete a Google form on the OHCSF website. https//www.ohesf.gov.ng. print and submit some to the Director of HR for endorsement payment, and designated officials will coordinate the rice distribution. At the same time, the chairperson of the Joint Union Council of the Ministry must serve as an observer during the transparency exercise.

I am to add that each staff member is only entitled to purchase one bag. Two or more staff may also jointly pay for a bag for sharing among themselves.

“Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of staff in your respective Departments/Units for information and guidance,” the memo reads as signed by Mrs Jaiyesim Abimbola Aderonke, the Director of Human Resource Management.

However, one day later, the Ministry abruptly retracted the plan as announced in another memo dated August 2 2024.

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Affairs) of 1st August 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the Internal Circular is hereby withdrawn,” the memo reads partly.

“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,” Jaiyesim announced.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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