Civil servants in Abuja have voiced their frustration over the sudden suspension of the Federal Government’s subsidized rice sales, which was initially offered at N40,000 per 50kg bag.
Many expressed concern after arriving at registration centers, only to find officials had disappeared without notice.
The Federal Government had launched the scheme to sell 30,000 metric tonnes of rice at a reduced price, aiming to ease the rising cost of food. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, had introduced the initiative as part of efforts to lower market prices.
However, after more than a week of operations, the sale was abruptly paused. Civil servants who had been waiting in line were disappointed by the lack of communication regarding the suspension.
Mrs. Mary Nwachukwu, a civil servant, said she was shocked to find officials absent when she arrived at the federal secretariat for payment. “I was told everything has been suspended, and no one knows if or when it will resume,” she said.
READ ALSO : FG stops sale of N40,000 subsidized rice to civil servants
Similarly, Mrs. Kudirat Muktah, who faced delays during the registration process, criticized the disorganized distribution and rowdy crowds. “I waited for the crowd to ease, but now I hear it’s suspended. They need a better system,” she added.
Mr. Sylvester Edwards, another civil servant, expressed his frustration after waiting two days just to register. “I spent two days registering, and now they say the process is changing. We can’t trust this government,” he lamented.
An anonymous source in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation disclosed that the palliative rice scheme was not handled by that office, but by the Office of the National Security Adviser. The sale was suspended due to the chaos and noise affecting office work.
The source also mentioned that a new system is being developed to decentralize the rice distribution, allowing civil servants to register through their respective ministries and agencies. The new process aims to streamline access to the rice and eliminate the disorder seen during the initial phase.
Civil servants have been advised to check with their ministries for details on the updated payment and distribution process.
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