AGS NEWS – The Federal Government has retracted a previous directive requiring civil servants to register for the purchase of a 50kg bag of rice at a subsidized rate of N40,000.

The withdrawal was announced in a new circular issued by Aderonke Jaiyesimi, the Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs.

The updated circular, dated August 2, 2024, was addressed to all directors and department heads.

It informed them of the cancellation of the earlier circular and indicated that further details would be provided later.

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Jaiyesimi also requested that the contents of the circular be shared with staff across departments for proper guidance.

Initially, the ministry had invited civil servants to register for the subsidized rice via a Google form on the OHCSF website, with payments and distribution to be managed by designated offices.

The initiative was part of the government’s broader effort to make essential commodities more affordable for citizens, as previously announced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris.