The Anambra State Government has announced that it will implement pro-rata salary payments for civil servants starting February 2026, as part of efforts to end the persistent Monday sit-at-home culture in the state.
Gossip News Now reports that Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, made the announcement during a press briefing in Awka on Saturday, following the end-of-tenure retreat of the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC).
According to Mefor, the pro-rata policy addresses deliberate absenteeism by civil servants, despite the improving security situation in the state.
He said, “Workers have been taking advantage of the sit-at-home, knowing that they would still receive their salaries whether they came to work or not. Ordinarily, this is a case of absenteeism and could lead to dismissal under civil service law, but the government has chosen a different approach. Starting February, salaries will be paid on a pro-rata basis.”
Mefor explained that civil servants will now be required to clock in and out every Monday to ensure accurate attendance records are kept.
He noted that the long-standing trend of skipping work on Mondays is no longer justifiable. “While insecurity and transport challenges existed in the past, they are no longer valid reasons for staying away from work,” he said.
The commissioner stressed that absenteeism on Mondays has significantly affected the state’s productivity and revenue generation.
“If staff from the Anambra Internal Revenue Service and other MDAs choose to stay away on Mondays, the state loses substantial revenue, and work progress is hindered,” he added.
Markets May Follow as Security is Strengthened
The government also revealed that discussions are ongoing with market leaders to encourage full resumption of business activities on Mondays, supported by increased security deployments to reassure traders and residents.
“The state is losing heavily due to the sit-at-home. We cannot expect markets and informal sectors to resume work while our own workforce remains absent,” Mefor said.
Rejecting suggestions to replace Mondays with Saturdays as a workaround, he said, “Do we now say we give up Monday and work on Saturday? That will not work. It would mean Anambra has yielded to whoever introduced the sit-at-home, and we would be the only state working on Saturdays in Nigeria, which is absurd.”
On salary deductions, Mefor explained that each month will be treated as having 24 working days, with pay calculated according to actual attendance.
“Every naira spent must reflect fairness, efficiency, and sustainability. This is the rationale for introducing the pro-rata system,” he said.
He concluded by highlighting the economic toll of the sit-at-home culture across the South-East, noting that Anambra could no longer absorb such losses.
“It is a decision the state government has taken, and its implementation is already underway,” Mefor affirmed.
© 2025 Gossip News Now, a division of CHIEJOS HARBIAN DIGITAL MEDIA LTD. Contact us via admin@gossipnewsnow.online
