Anambra Starts New Salary System To End Sit-at-home

Anambra Starts New Salary System To End Sit-at-home

The Anambra State Government has introduced a new salary system that will affect civil servants who stay away from work on Mondays, as part of a fresh push to end the long-running sit-at-home practice across the state.

The decision was announced in Awka on Saturday by the Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, who said the policy was approved by the State Executive Council during its end-of-tenure retreat.

The meeting reviewed the performance of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration over the last four years and set priorities ahead of the new term starting on March 17, 2026.

The policy targets public workers who routinely skip work on Mondays, a trend that began during periods of insecurity and transport difficulties.

According to the government, those conditions no longer exist, yet many workers continue to stay at home because salaries are paid in full regardless of attendance.

The government plans to track attendance by requiring workers to clock in and out every Monday. Mefor warned that absenteeism slows government business and affects revenue, noting that closed offices also hurt the wider economy.

“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.”

Authorities said talks are ongoing with market leaders to reopen shops on Mondays, while security measures are being strengthened to reassure residents.

Salaries will now be divided by 24 working days each month to determine individual earnings, as the government insists the financial losses caused by the sit-at-home can no longer be sustained.