By Ayomide Otitoju
The Anambra State Government has officially terminated the long-standing Monday sit-at-home across the state, effective immediately.
The directive was contained in a statement signed by Mgbemena Loveline E., Board Secretary of the State Universal Basic Education Board, following the state executive council retreat on January 21, 2026, presided over by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.
The statement warned that civil servants, both tutorial and non-tutorial, who fail to report to work on Mondays would face salary deductions of either 20 percent or a total forfeiture. “You are to bring the content of this letter to the notice of all staff under you and ensure adequate compliance. Please be properly guided, as the above is the executive decision of the state government,” it added.
For years, large parts of Anambra have observed weekly Monday shutdowns, originally imposed by non-state actors in the South-East. The practice has disrupted schools, markets, workplaces, and commercial activities, particularly in major hubs like Onitsha, and has been widely criticised for stalling the state’s economic growth.
Governor Soludo has been a key proponent of ending the closures. In April 2022, he formally declared an end to the sit-at-home, offering amnesty to youths in hideouts and announcing plans for a peace and reconciliation committee to address related challenges.
Recent government statements indicate that the practice has largely diminished, with remaining observance now a matter of personal choice rather than insecurity. Soludo has urged residents to take advantage of the improved security environment to resume normal business activities.
Despite the official directive, some residents reportedly continue to observe Mondays at home out of caution.
