By Abiola Olawale
The Anambra State Government has announced the commencement of pro-rata salary payments for all civil servants, effective February 2026.
The policy, aimed at permanently ending the long-standing “Monday sit-at-home” practice, ensures that workers will only be compensated for days they actually report to their duty posts, the government stated.
The announcement followed a State Executive Council (SEC) retreat held in Awka, presided over by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State.
The Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, briefed journalists on Saturday, January 24, 2026, clarifying that the state can no longer justify full salary payments for a four-day work week.
Mefor said the retreat was held to review the activities of Soludo’s administration over the past four years and to craft a better focus for the new term commencing on March 17, 2026.
The commissioner noted that, for the past four years, Anambra public and civil servants had often stayed away from work on Mondays due to the sit-at-home, citing insecurity and lack of transportation facilities.
He said, “The retreat acknowledged that even though these factors existed in the past, they no longer exist, making them invalid reasons for absenteeism from work.
“The workers were simply enjoying the sit-at-home because they knew that whether they came to work or not, they would be paid their salaries.
“The ANSEC retreat has decided to put a stop to the anomaly. Ordinarily, the matter should be treated as a case of absenteeism, which could lead to dismissal from service, as is captured in the civil service law.
“But we are not following that route. The state government has decided that it will pay pro rata from this February. So if you don’t want to lose your salary for that Monday, then you come to work.
“The mechanism is already in place and forms are being devised, so that workers can clock in on Monday morning and clock out at the close of work.”
Mefor also emphasised that civil servants’ absence from work on Mondays negatively impacts the productivity of the state government.
“Any day civil servants fail to come to work, it means that the state government’s business will stagnate and, by implication, the economy of the state will stagnate. Income accrueable to the government will be lost, and there’s no guarantee that such losses can be recovered.
“For example, if the staff of the Anambra Internal Revenue Service and other MDAs decide to be absent from work on Monday, the state loses a lot of money and impedes the progress of work.”
