Nigerian Government Withdraws Circular on Subsidized Rice for Civil Servants

The Federal Government has withdrawn a circular directing civil servants to apply for subsidized rice, effectively stopping the planned sale of the commodity to them.

A new circular from the Ministry of Special Duty and Inter-Governmental Affairs, obtained on Thursday in Abuja, announced the withdrawal of the initial memo without giving any reason.

The circular, signed by the ministry’s Director of Human Resources, Aderonke Jaiyesimi, stated, “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Affairs) of August 1, 2024, on the above subject matter and to inform you that the internal circular is hereby withdrawn.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.”

The initial circular had directed interested staff members to complete a Google form on the OHCSF website and submit it to the director of human resources for endorsement. The payment for and distribution of the rice were to be coordinated by designated offices, with the chairman, Joint Union Council of the ministry, serving as an observer for transparency reasons.

The Federal Government had earlier announced the creation of centers across the country where Nigerians could purchase 50 kg bags of rice for N40,000. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, described the initiative as one of several efforts by the Tinubu administration to ease living conditions for citizens.

It is unclear whether the scheme has been stopped or only suspended, as the circular did not provide further details. The withdrawal of the circular has left many civil servants who had expressed interest in the subsidized rice in limbo.