A cross-section of civil servants in Abuja has voiced their concerns regarding the suspension of the Federal Government’s subsidized rice sales, priced at ₦40,000 per 50-kilogram bag. The abrupt halt has left many employees puzzled, particularly after noticing the absence of officials at various registration units for purchasing the rice.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) previously reported that the Federal Government had pledged to sell 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to Nigerians at a subsidized rate as part of its intervention to reduce food prices in local markets. During the inauguration of the scheme, Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing food inflation.
The sale had commenced and lasted for over a week before being suspended without prior notice, a move that disappointed many workers who had not yet benefited from the initiative.
Mary Nwachukwu, a civil servant, expressed her dismay upon arriving at the payment point at the Federal Secretariat, only to find that officials were absent. “I was encouraged to come to the registration unit, only for me to be told that the whole thing has been suspended. Nobody knows what may happen next or if the scheme will continue,” she lamented.
Kudirat Muktah also expressed frustration, stating that she had spent two days trying to register her name. She noted that the suspension was likely due to chaos at the registration and payment points, suggesting that a more organized approach could improve access to the rice.
Sylvester Edwards, who had similarly struggled to register, voiced disappointment over the news. “Although we heard that the rice will be accessed through another method, we cannot trust this government. The palliative rice could help ease hunger, so it’s important for the government to bring it back,” he said.
In response to the situation, findings by NAN indicated that there may be a new arrangement in place for purchasing the rice to streamline the process. An anonymous source from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation clarified that the scheme is being managed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) rather than their office.
Regarding the suspension, the source stated that the registration process was currently under review to facilitate a more efficient system for civil servants to access the subsidized rice.