The Anambra State Government took decisive steps in January 2026 to address a persistent weekly economic challenge. State officials reported that the lingering Monday sit-at-home order continued to cause massive financial losses, stalling government business and reducing revenue.
Economic Impact and Government Response
The state administration quantified the long-term damage as significant. Following a State Executive Council retreat, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, briefed journalists on the severity of the issue.
He explained that the economic losses from the sit-at-home had accumulated to trillions of naira over the years. Importantly, the government observed that the initial challenges that prompted the sit-at-home no longer existed, making ongoing absenteeism unjustifiable.
In response, the government announced a new policy set to start in February 2026. Authorities decided to begin pro-rata salary payments for civil servants. Under this system, workers who failed to report for duty on Mondays would forfeit the portion of their salaries for that day.
Commissioner Mefor stated that the government introduced this measure as a less drastic alternative to punishment under civil service rules.
Enforcement and Market Closures
Moreover the government enforced stricter measures on commercial activities. During an unscheduled visit to the Onitsha Main Market, Governor Chukwuma Soludo ordered its immediate closure for one week.
He took this action because he observed a significant number of shops remained shut in defiance of the state’s order against the sit-at-home. Governor Soludo warned traders they must open their shops from Monday to Saturday or relocate elsewhere.
The Commissioner for Information detailed the enforcement mechanism for civil servants. He said, “This includes the introduction of attendance forms that will enable workers to clock in at the start of work and clock out at closing time on Mondays”. The government ruled out shifting the workweek to Saturdays, describing that idea as an impractical surrender to the order.
Legal Perspectives on the Crisis
A key legal figure connected to the sit-at-home presented a contrasting view. Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, reacted to the government’s actions. He argued that administrative orders could not stop the practice.
“This truth is self-evident: The Monday Sit-At-Home in South-East is the best evidence of how unhappy Ndigbo are over the travails of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and it will persist until he’s freed,” Ejimakor wrote.
He further insisted that only one solution would work. “And this: The #Sit-At-Home has reached a point where no Executive Order can end it, but it will end instantly on its own once Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is freed,” he added. This position highlighted the deep-seated political grievance underlying the economic disruption.
Broader State Development Initiatives
Alongside these direct actions, the state government promoted broader initiatives to foster economic engagement. In the education sector, the state introduced 15 new entrepreneurial subjects into the junior secondary school curriculum. The wife of the governor, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, said this was designed to prepare students to become “solution providers.”
Furthermore the administration reported empowering over 36,000 youths with digital skills and business grants. These long-term programs aimed to build a more resilient and skilled population, contributing to the state’s efforts to stabilize its economy and society amidst ongoing challenges.
