By Kasarahchi ANIAGOLU 

Barely a week after announcing the sale of the first batch of 50kg bag of rice at N40,000 to civil servants in the country, the federal government has announced the withdrawal of the plan.

In a circular by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs signed by the Director of Human Resource Management, Aderonke A. Jaiyesimi, the government suspended the distribution exercise.

The document FMSDIGA/IC/154/VI/TI/387 issued to all Directors and Heads of Department, Heads of Unit, was titled “Withdrawal of internal circular on sale of subsidized rice to public servants”.

The document counters the August 4, 2024 distribution announcement by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari.

Kyari had said public servants would be the first beneficiaries of the sale due to the availability of an accurate data system that will ensure proper documentation of the sale of the food item.

However, the circular counters the minister’s directive without any further reason for halting the plan.

The letter read, “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Affairs) of 1st August 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the Internal Circular is hereby withdrawn. 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”.

Recall that the federal government in a bid to stop the ongoing ten-day hunger protest, announced the immediate distribution of an additional 20 trucks of 50 kg rice to each state to be sold at designated centres for N40,000 per bag.

According to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, “The President has listened to the voices of all those who are planning this protest. The message is that there is no need for it. Indeed, the president is already protesting on their behalf by doing those things that they want the government to do.

“At the last Council meeting, we announced that 20 trucks had been given to each state governor for onward distribution to those who needed them, to the poorest of the poor in society.

“But the government did not stop. Rice is also being sold at about 50 per cent of its cost; a bag of rice is being sold as we speak. This rice has been taken to various centres across all the states of the federation and is being sold at N40,000. Centres have been created so that those who need this rice can go there and buy this rice at N40,000.”

Published Date: August 9, 2024