The Anambra State Government has announced the commencement of pro-rata salary payments for civil servants effective February 2026, as a decisive measure to eliminate the longstanding Monday sit-at-home practice and enhance government efficiency.
This initiative, resolved during the recent end-of-tenure retreat of the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) in Awka, aims to ensure that salaries reflect actual days worked, addressing the economic losses incurred from absenteeism.
For the past four years, civil and public servants have observed the Monday sit-at-home, initially driven by concerns over insecurity and transportation challenges. However, with these issues now resolved, the government views continued absenteeism as unjustifiable, especially since workers have been receiving full salaries regardless of attendance.
"The retreat acknowledged that even though these factors existed in the past, they no longer exist, making them invalid reasons for absenteeism from work," said Dr. Law Mefor, Commissioner for Information. "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."
Under the new policy, salaries will be calculated pro-rata based on a standard of 24 working days per month. Mechanisms are already in place, including forms for workers to clock in on Monday mornings and clock out at the end of the day. "The ANSEC retreat has decided to put a stop to the anomaly,"
Dr. Mefor explained. "Ordinarily, the matter should be treated as a case of absenteeism, which could lead to dismissal from service, as is captured in the civil service law. But we are not following that route. The state government has decided that it is paying pro-rata from this February. So if you don’t want to lose your salary for that Monday, then you come to work.”
The sit-at-home has inflicted significant economic damage on the state, with losses running into trillions of naira since its inception, according to assessments by an international firm. Absenteeism on Mondays stagnates government operations, hampers revenue collection such as through the Anambra Internal Revenue Service and impedes overall progress.
"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," noted Dr. Mefor. "Income accrueable to the government will be lost and there’s no guarantee that such losses can be recovered.”
The government has firmly rejected alternatives like shifting work to Saturdays, deeming it impractical and a surrender to external pressures. "This is part of the reason for the decision to pay pro-rata; it is to ensure that every naira spent reflects fairness, efficiency, and sustainability," Dr. Mefor added.
"Do we now say we give up Monday and take Saturday as a working day? That will not work. It will mean that Anambra State has yielded to whoever introduced this sit-at-home, and again, we will be the only state working on Saturdays in Nigeria, and that will be absurd."
In parallel, the state is engaging market leaders to encourage Monday openings and is enhancing security measures to instill confidence among traders and the informal sector.
"The state is losing so much due to the sit-at-home and the government cannot be asking the markets and other informal sectors to show up on Monday when its own workforce has refused to come," emphasized Dr. Mefor. "The thing has to be done. Four years is enough."
Additionally, an Executive Order has been issued to abolish the closure of schools on Mondays, with strict enforcement. A directive dated January 22, 2026, from the Universal Basic Education Board warns that teachers and non-teaching staff who fail to comply will face a 20% salary deduction or full forfeiture. This measure underscores the administration's commitment to normalizing operations across all sectors.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo's administration remains dedicated to fostering a productive, secure, and economically vibrant Anambra State. This policy aligns with the broader goals of the retreat, which reviewed achievements over the past four years and outlined priorities for the new term beginning March 17, 2026.