The Anambra State Government has announced a shift to pro-rata salary payments for civil servants, a move aimed at curbing the long-standing Monday sit-at-home practice across the state.
Grassroots Parrot reports that the policy, which takes effect from February 2026, will ensure that workers are paid strictly for the days they report to duty, according to the state Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor.
Speaking to journalists in Awka on Saturday, Mefor said the decision was reached during the recently concluded end-of-tenure retreat of the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC), where members reviewed the performance of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration over the past four years and outlined priorities for the next term beginning March 17, 2026.
The commissioner noted that absenteeism on Mondays had persisted among public servants, previously attributed to insecurity and transportation challenges linked to the sit-at-home order. However, he said those concerns were no longer valid.
According to him, many workers continued to stay away from work simply because salaries were paid in full regardless of attendance.
To address the situation, Mefor explained that the government opted against disciplinary sanctions provided for under civil service rules and instead adopted a salary-based deterrent.
Under the new arrangement, workers who fail to report on Mondays will forfeit pay for that day, while those who attend work will receive their full entitlement. He disclosed that systems are already being put in place to monitor attendance, including clock-in and clock-out mechanisms.
Mefor warned that repeated Monday absences have significantly affected government productivity and revenue generation, particularly in revenue-driving agencies and ministries.
He said the pro-rata payment system is intended to promote fairness, efficiency and fiscal sustainability, stressing that the state cannot afford to lose another workday weekly.
The commissioner also ruled out replacing Mondays with Saturday workdays, describing such an option as impractical and symbolic of surrendering to the sit-at-home culture.
He added that the government is engaging market leaders to ensure businesses reopen on Mondays and is strengthening security arrangements to restore public confidence.
On salary computation, Mefor explained that monthly wages would be divided by the standard 24 working days to determine individual earnings.
He concluded that the economic losses resulting from the sit-at-home have been enormous and that the government has resolved to enforce the policy without delay.