The Anambra State Government has announced that it will begin pro-rata payment of salaries to civil servants from February 2026 as part of measures to end the persistent Monday sit-at-home in the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, disclosed this on Saturday in Awka while briefing journalists on decisions taken at the end-of-tenure retreat of the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC).
According to Mefor, the retreat reviewed the performance of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration over the last four years and outlined priorities for the new term beginning on March 17, 2026.
He explained that for years, many public servants had stayed away from work on Mondays, citing insecurity and transportation challenges, but noted that such conditions no longer exist.
“The retreat observed that workers simply stayed away because they knew they would still be paid whether they came to work or not,” Mefor said.
He noted that while absenteeism ordinarily attracts disciplinary measures, including dismissal under civil service rules, the government opted for a less punitive approach.
“From February, salaries will be paid on a pro-rata basis. If you do not come to work on Monday, you lose the pay for that day,” he said, adding that mechanisms are already being put in place for workers to clock in and out on Mondays.
The commissioner stressed that the absence of civil servants on Mondays has negatively affected governance and the state’s economy.
“Whenever civil servants fail to come to work, government activities stagnate, revenue is lost, and economic progress is hindered,” he said, citing agencies such as the Anambra Internal Revenue Service as examples.
Mefor said the policy was aimed at promoting fairness, efficiency, and sustainability in public spending, noting that the state could not afford to sacrifice an entire workday weekly.
“Giving up Mondays or replacing it with Saturday as a workday is not an option. That would mean surrendering to the sit-at-home and making Anambra the only state working Saturdays, which is unreasonable,” he said.
He added that discussions are ongoing with market leaders to ensure markets reopen on Mondays, while the government continues to strengthen security to reassure traders and residents.
On the salary calculation, Mefor explained that each worker’s monthly salary would be divided by the 24 official working days to determine earnings.
“The economic losses from the sit-at-home have run into trillions over the years. Four years is enough. The government has taken a decision, and implementation has already begun,” he said.
Meanwhile, the government reiterated that it had earlier abolished Monday school closures through an Executive Order, warning that teachers and non-teaching staff who fail to report for duty risk losing up to 80 per cent of their salaries.
This directive was contained in a January 22, 2026 letter signed by the Board Secretary of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, Loveline Mgbemena, instructing education officials across the state to enforce compliance.
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