Anambra Government Slashes Salaries of Workers Over Monday Sit-at-Home Absence

The Anambra State Government> has reduced the February salaries of civil servants who failed to report for duty on Mondays, previously observed as sit-at-home days linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra> (IPOB).

Earlier, the state government announced the introduction of a pro-rata salary structure aimed at discouraging compliance with the Monday sit-at-home directive. Under the new policy, which took effect in February 2026, workers’ pay would be calculated based on the actual number of days worked. Authorities also declared an official end to the sit-at-home protest within the state.

However, the implementation has sparked complaints among workers at the Jerome Udoji State Secretariat> in Awka. Several employees reported receiving sharply reduced February salaries, with some claiming the deductions did not accurately reflect the number of Mondays they missed.

One civil servant, who spoke anonymously over fears of victimisation, said a colleague received just N10,000 after deductions were made. Another worker in the Ministry of Information revealed he was paid only N3,500 out of a salary exceeding N80,000.

According to him, some staff members who missed work once or twice still experienced substantial salary cuts, raising concerns about possible calculation errors.

Another affected employee expressed shock after discovering that more than N80,000 had been deducted for missing two Mondays, insisting that the amount appeared excessive and likely miscalculated.

Responding to the backlash, the state Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor>, confirmed that the salary reductions were intentional and served as disciplinary action for failing to report to work on Mondays.

He explained that workers were instructed to clock in and clock out on Mondays to verify their attendance. Failure to do so, he said, would be treated as absence, as there would be no official record to prove they were present.

The measure represents one of the strongest steps yet by the Anambra State Government to enforce regular work attendance on Mondays, as authorities push to restore full adherence to official schedules.