Anambra State Government has taken a decisive step to restore full academic activities by mandating the reopening of public schools every Monday, with strict salary penalties for non-compliance. The directive, issued through an executive order on January 22, 2026, requires all teachers and school staff to report for duty weekly or risk losing a substantial portion of their pay.
The order was signed following a state council retreat presided over by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo. It specifically targets the long-running Monday sit-at-home practice that emerged in 2021 after calls by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) demanding the release of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Although the sit-at-home directive was later suspended, its impact has lingered, particularly within the education sector.
Under the new policy, public school employees who fail to show up on Mondays will receive only 20 percent of their monthly salary, while persistent defaulters may forfeit their earnings entirely. The government believes the financial consequence will discourage absenteeism and compel strict adherence to the directive.
While previous government interventions succeeded in reopening markets and improving road usage on Mondays, public schools remained largely affected due to lingering security concerns and fear of violence. The continued disruption has significantly reduced learning hours for students and contributed to broader economic losses across the state.
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This latest measure represents a tougher enforcement strategy, signaling the government’s determination to normalize public life and protect the education system. With January 27 marked as a key test date for compliance, the policy is expected to reveal how firmly the state can enforce its stance against the sit-at-home culture in Anambra.