Anambra Introduces Pro-Rata Salaries to End Monday Sit‑at‑Home

The Anambra State government will begin pro‑rata salary payments for civil servants from February 2026, a policy aimed at ending the recurring Monday sit‑at‑home across the state.

The announcement was made by Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, during a briefing in Awka on Saturday, January 24. He said the decision followed an end-of-tenure retreat of the State Executive Council, which reviewed Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s first four years and outlined priorities for his new term starting March 17, 2026.

Mefor explained that civil servants have regularly stayed away from work on Mondays, citing insecurity and transportation issues. The retreat concluded these challenges no longer justify absenteeism.

“The workers were simply enjoying the sit‑at‑home because they knew they would be paid whether they came to work or not,” Mefor said. “Ordinarily, this should be treated as absenteeism, punishable under civil service rules. But the government has opted for pro‑rata payment instead of dismissals.”

Under the new system, salaries will be calculated across 24 working days, with employees paid only for days they are present. Attendance mechanisms, including Monday clock-in forms, are being put in place to ensure compliance.

Mefor warned that the ongoing Monday shutdowns have negatively impacted government productivity and the state’s economy, noting that absenteeism in revenue agencies directly reduces state income.

The government is also engaging market leaders to ensure Monday trading resumes fully and continues to strengthen security for traders.

This move builds on a recent Executive Order ending Monday school closures. The directive, signed January 22, 2026, by Loveline Mgbemena, Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Board, stipulates that teachers and staff who fail to report on Mondays may lose 20% or all of their monthly salary.

Mefor emphasized that the policy is intended to restore fairness and economic stability. “Four years is enough. The economic loss from the sit‑at‑home runs into trillions, according to an international firm,” he said.