The Imo State Government’s plan to distribute Christmas rice to civil servants has sparked controversy, with workers protesting the mandatory payment of ₦40,000 per bag.
Trailer loads of rice were reportedly offloaded and distributed to ministries, parastatals, and agencies across the state ahead of the festive season. However, workers earning below ₦40,000 monthly lamented their exclusion from the exercise, questioning how they could afford the steep price for a bag of rice.
Adding to the discontent, senior staff are demanding the option to purchase more than one bag, while junior workers argue the charge is unrealistic given the absence of the new national minimum wage of ₦70,000 in their salaries.
“Some of us don’t even earn ₦40,000 monthly. How can we pay that much for rice?” one frustrated worker asked. Others called on the government to provide free rice as a goodwill gesture for the holiday season.
Workers are required to undergo biometric capturing at the Ministry of Digital Economy along Egbu Road, Owerri, to access the rice. The situation has left many disillusioned, with workers urging Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration to reconsider the directive.
