Anambra Govt Ends Monday Sit-At-Home, Threatens Workers With Pay Cut

The Anambra State Government has officially ended the long-standing Monday sit-at-home practice, issuing an Executive Order that requires schools to operate fully on Mondays and threatens strict salary deductions for workers who fail to comply.

According to the directive, teachers and non-teaching staff who fail to report to their schools or offices on Mondays stand the risk of having 20 per cent deducted from their monthly pay or losing their salary altogether.

This development was communicated in a circular dated January 22, 2026, and signed by the Board Secretary of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Loveline Mgbemena.

The circular, titled “Executive Order on Termination of Monday Sit-at-Home in Anambra State,” was sent to permanent members of the board, education officers overseeing the state’s 21 local government areas, zonal directors, and heads of departments.

Mgbemena instructed senior officials to disseminate the directive to all personnel under their authority and ensure “adequate compliance.”

The letter explained that the decision was reached during a State Executive Council retreat convened on January 21, 2026, under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo.

“Sequel to the State Exco retreat held on January 21, 2026 presided by the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, I am directed to inform you that the state government has decided that the protracted Monday sit-at-home in Anambra State has been abolished with immediate effect,” the letter read.

It further stated, “By this directive, any staff both tutorial and non-tutorial that fails to attend school or office on Monday will either receive 20 per cent of his/her salary or forfeit it entirely.”

The ASUBEB secretary emphasized that the instruction constitutes an “executive decision of the state government” and called for firm and consistent enforcement across all levels.

The Monday sit-at-home practice in Anambra State and other parts of the South-East dates back to August 9, 2021, when the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, instituted a weekly shutdown as part of its campaign for the release of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

At the time, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, issued a statement directing residents to stay indoors and ordering the closure of schools, markets, and motor parks every Monday.