The Anambra State Government has officially put an end to the long-observed Monday sit-at-home practice, issuing an Executive Order that mandates the reopening of schools and public offices at the start of every week. As part of the new directive, teachers and other public sector workers who fail to report to duty on Mondays now face salary deductions or complete forfeiture of their pay.
According to the order, any teaching or non-teaching staff absent from work on Mondays risks losing up to 20 per cent of their monthly salary, with the possibility of more severe penalties for repeated non-compliance.
The directive was communicated through a letter dated January 22, 2026, signed by the Secretary of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Loveline Mgbemena. The letter was distributed to key education stakeholders, including permanent board members, zonal directors, heads of departments, and education officers overseeing the state’s 21 local government areas.
Titled “Executive Order on Termination of Monday Sit-at-Home in Anambra State,” the correspondence instructed senior officials to ensure that the policy is widely circulated among staff and fully enforced without exceptions.
The government explained that the decision followed a retreat of the State Executive Council held on January 21, 2026, under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo. At the retreat, the council resolved that the prolonged disruption caused by the Monday shutdown was no longer acceptable.
The letter stated that the sit-at-home order had been abolished with immediate effect and emphasized that compliance was mandatory. It further noted that the directive represents an executive decision of the state government and must be treated as such by all concerned authorities.
The Monday sit-at-home practice began in August 2021 after the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) announced a weekly shutdown across the South-East to demand the release of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The group had directed residents to stay indoors while schools, markets, and motor parks were shut down every Monday.
Although IPOB later announced the suspension of the directive, lingering fear of attacks and reprisals has continued to paralyze activities in many parts of Anambra State, leaving public institutions and businesses largely inactive at the beginning of each week.
The Soludo-led administration has consistently argued that the sit-at-home has severely damaged the state’s economy, disrupted governance, and negatively affected students’ learning outcomes. Officials maintain that restoring normal activities is essential for economic recovery and social stability.
However, the latest order has raised concerns among teachers and school workers, many of whom argue that their absence on Mondays is driven by security concerns rather than political sympathy. Despite these apprehensions, the state government appears resolute in enforcing compliance, using salary penalties as a key measure to end what it describes as a prolonged disruption of public life in Anambra State.
