There are indications that the initial euphoria over sale of rice at subsidised rate to public servants may have come a little too early. This is because BUSHLINK learnt that the government may have had a rethink on the policy. And that is coming about one week after the announcement that the sale of a 50 kg bag of rice at N40,000 would start with public servants.
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 that counters the minister’s directive did not give any further reason for halting the plan.
The letter reads, “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Affairs) of 1st August 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the Internal Circular is hereby withdrawn.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.”