The Anambra State Government has issued an Executive Order ending the closure of schools on Mondays over the sit-at-home practice, warning of sanctions for teachers and non-teaching staff who fail to comply.
The directive was contained in a letter dated January 22, 2026, signed by the Board Secretary of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, Loveline Mgbemena.
Mgbemena directed permanent board members, officers in charge of the 21 local government areas, zonal directors and departmental heads to circulate the order to all staff under their supervision and ensure strict compliance.
According to the letter, the decision followed the state executive council retreat held on January 21, 2026, presided over by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
The government warned that any staff member—tutorial or non-tutorial—who stays away from school or office on Mondays risks a salary penalty.
“By this directive, any staff both tutorial and non-tutorial that fails to attend school or office on Monday will either receive 20 per cent of his/her salary or forfeit it entirely,” the letter stated.
Titled “Executive Order on termination of Monday sit-at-home in Anambra State,” the memo added that the abolition of the Monday sit-at-home takes immediate effect, stressing that the instruction represents the executive decision of the state government.
PROMPTNEWS reports that although IPOB has since announced the suspension of the directive, residents in parts of the South-East have continued to observe it, largely due to fear of attacks and reprisals.