Anambra Begins Pro-Rata Salary Payments to End Monday Sit-at-Home Order

The Anambra State Government has announced the commencement of pro-rata salary payments for civil servants starting February 2026 as part of a bold strategy to end the persistent Monday sit-at-home order that has crippled economic activity and public service delivery for years.

Commissioner for Information Dr. Law Mefor disclosed the decision to journalists in Awka on Saturday, January 24, 2026, following the end-of-tenure retreat of the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC). The retreat reviewed Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s first-term performance and set priorities for his second term beginning March 17, 2026.

Why Pro-Rata Now?

Mefor explained that for the past four years, many public and civil servants stayed away from work on Mondays citing insecurity and transportation difficulties linked to the sit-at-home order enforced by pro-Biafra separatist elements and criminal groups. However, he argued these reasons are no longer valid: security has improved significantly, roads are safer, and transportation is functional.

“The workers were simply enjoying the sit-at-home because they know that whether they come to work or not, they will be paid salaries,” Mefor said. He described the practice as an anomaly that negatively impacts state productivity and revenue generation. “Any day civil servants fail to come to work, it means that the state government’s business will stagnate and, by implication, the economy of the state will stagnate. Income accruable to government will be lost and there’s no guarantee that such losses can be recovered.”

How Pro-Rata Will Work

Salaries will be calculated based on the 24 working days in a typical month. Absence on Monday will result in a proportionate deduction (approximately 1/24th or about 4.17% of monthly salary). Workers who resume on Mondays will receive full pay. “The mechanism is already in place and forms are being devised, so that workers can clock in on Monday morning and clock out at the close of work,” Mefor added. The state rejected alternatives like shifting Monday to Saturday, arguing it would amount to yielding to the sit-at-home enforcers and create an outlier working pattern in Nigeria.

Broader Economic and Social Impact

The sit-at-home order, initially enforced by IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) in 2021 to protest the detention of leader Nnamdi Kanu, has evolved into a tool exploited by criminals for extortion, kidnapping, and disruption. In Anambra, it has caused trillions of naira in economic losses (per international estimates cited by Mefor), shuttered markets, crippled public services, and deterred investment. The government is also negotiating with market leaders to reopen markets on Mondays and boosting security to build trader confidence. Earlier, Anambra issued an Executive Order abolishing Monday school closures, threatening sanctions (20% salary deduction or full forfeiture) for non-compliant teachers and non-tutorial staff.

Reactions and Implications

The policy has sparked debate. Supporters see it as a bold step toward restoring normalcy, productivity, and fiscal discipline. Critics worry about hardships for workers in remote areas or those still fearing insecurity, though Mefor insists the security situation no longer justifies absenteeism. The measure reflects Soludo’s focus on governance reform, economic recovery, and ending the sit-at-home culture that has disproportionately harmed the Southeast. If successful, it could serve as a model for other states in the region facing similar challenges. Implementation begins February 2026, with clock-in systems and monitoring to ensure compliance and fairness.