Anambra salary cut sit-at-home: Government slashes February pay of workers who skipped Mondays
The Anambra State Government has deducted the February salaries of civil servants who failed to report to work on Mondays due to the sit-at-home directive observed in parts of the state, sparking fresh debate over workers’ rights, security concerns and public service discipline.
Affected workers confirmed that their monthly pay was slashed after payroll records showed absences on Mondays throughout the month. The deductions reportedly varied depending on how many days each worker missed work. Some workers said they lost as much as a quarter of their salary, while others complained of heavier cuts.
Government officials said the action followed repeated warnings that public servants must report to duty regardless of sit-at-home calls. The state government has consistently maintained that there is no official sit-at-home policy in Anambra and that any worker who absents himself from duty without permission would face sanctions.
A senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said attendance registers were carefully monitored across ministries, departments and agencies. “We warned workers several times that salaries would be deducted for days not worked. This is not a punishment but enforcement of existing civil service rules,” the official said.
For years, Mondays in Anambra and other parts of the South-East have been marked by sit-at-home compliance, often linked to directives by separatist groups and fear of violence. Many businesses shut down, roads remain deserted and public offices operate with skeletal staff. Workers have often cited fear for their safety as the reason for staying at home.
However, the Anambra State Government has insisted that the practice hurts the economy and weakens governance. Officials say the continued shutdown of offices every Monday reduces productivity, delays public services and scares away investors.
“The state cannot continue to lose one full working day every week,” another official said. “We are trying to build a functioning system. If workers don’t come to work, government cannot serve the people.”
Some affected workers expressed anger and frustration over the deductions. A civil servant in Awka said he stayed at home on Mondays because he feared attacks and violence. “It is not that we don’t want to work. We are scared. But now they are punishing us by cutting our salary,” he said.
Another worker described the salary cut as unfair, arguing that government should guarantee security before enforcing attendance. “If they want us to come out, they should ensure our safety. We cannot risk our lives for salary,” she said.
Labour activists in the state have also reacted, calling on the government to dialogue with workers instead of imposing deductions. They warned that the move could worsen morale in the civil service and create tension between workers and the state.
“Workers are caught between fear of violence and fear of losing their salaries,” a union source said. “Government must address the root cause of sit-at-home instead of only punishing workers.”
The state government, however, defended its position, saying it has taken steps to improve security across the state. Authorities said security agencies have been deployed to strategic locations every Monday to encourage normal business activities and protect residents.
In recent months, Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration has repeatedly appealed to residents to ignore sit-at-home calls and resume normal life. The government has also shut down markets and institutions that deliberately comply with sit-at-home, insisting that no group has the authority to disrupt public life.
Analysts say the salary deductions highlight the growing tension between enforcing law and order and acknowledging the genuine fear among workers. They note that while government has the legal right to insist on attendance, it must also provide visible and consistent security to reassure workers.
Economists warn that continued disruption of workdays has long-term effects on state revenue, productivity and investor confidence. They say the sit-at-home culture has cost businesses millions of naira in lost revenue and reduced internally generated revenue for the state.
For now, the February salary deductions appear to be a signal from the Anambra State Government that it is serious about ending the Monday shutdown culture. Officials say similar action will be taken in the future if workers continue to stay away from duty without approval.
As reactions continue, many civil servants say they are torn between obeying government directives and protecting their lives. Whether the salary cuts will end the sit-at-home compliance or deepen resentment among workers remains to be seen. What is clear is that the Anambra salary cut sit-at-home decision has brought the long-running issue of Monday shutdowns back into sharp national focus.
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