RismadarVoice Reporters
January 24, 2026
The Anambra State Government has announced the commencement of pro-rata salary payments for civil servants across the state as part of measures to end the persistent Monday sit-at-home.
The state Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, disclosed this to journalists in Awka on Saturday, stating that with effect from February 2026, workers’ salaries will be paid strictly on a pro-rata basis.
According to Mefor, the decision was reached during the end-of-tenure retreat of the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC), held in Awka, where the council reviewed the performance of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration over the past four years and outlined priorities for the new term beginning on March 17, 2026.
The Commissioner noted that for the past four years, many public servants had routinely stayed away from work on Mondays, citing insecurity and lack of transportation caused by the sit-at-home order.
He said the retreat acknowledged that while such challenges existed in the past, they no longer do, making continued absenteeism unjustifiable.
“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,” Mefor said.
He explained that although absenteeism ordinarily attracts disciplinary action, including possible dismissal under the civil service rules, the government opted for a more measured approach.
“We are not following that route. The state government has decided to pay pro-rata from February. If you don’t want to lose your salary for that Monday, then you come to work,” he added.
Mefor revealed that mechanisms have been put in place for monitoring attendance, including clock-in and clock-out systems for Mondays.
He further stressed that absence from work on Mondays significantly affects government productivity and the state’s economy.
“Any day civil servants fail to come to work, government business stagnates and, by implication, the economy stagnates. Income accruable to government is lost, with no guarantee of recovery,” he said.
Citing revenue-generating agencies such as the Anambra Internal Revenue Service and other MDAs, the Commissioner noted that Monday absenteeism leads to substantial financial losses and delays in service delivery.
According to him, the pro-rata payment system is aimed at ensuring fairness, efficiency, and sustainability in public spending.
Mefor dismissed suggestions of making Saturdays official workdays, describing such a move as impractical and an admission of defeat.
“That would mean Anambra has yielded to whoever imposed the sit-at-home. We would also become the only state working on Saturdays, which would be absurd,” he said.
The directive was conveyed in a letter dated January 22, 2026, signed by the Board Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Board, Loveline Mgbemena.
The letter instructed permanent board members, officers in charge of the 21 local government areas, zonal directors, and departmental heads to inform all staff under their supervision and ensure full compliance.
