Anambra Government Mandates Monday School Resumption with Salary Penalty Threat
The Anambra state government has issued a firm directive requiring all teachers and school staff to resume work on Mondays, threatening significant salary deductions for non-compliance. This executive order aims to dismantle the long-standing Monday sit-at-home practice that has disrupted educational activities across the state for years.
Official Directive and Enforcement Measures
In a formal letter dated January 22, 2026, and signed by Universal Basic Education Board Secretary Loveline Mgbemena, the state government announced the immediate abolition of Monday school closures. The directive explicitly states that any tutorial or non-tutorial staff who fails to report to school or office on Mondays will either receive only twenty percent of their monthly salary or forfeit it entirely.
The order, titled "Executive Order on Termination of Monday Sit-at-Home in Anambra State," was communicated to all permanent board members, zonal directors, local government area officers, and departmental heads with instructions to ensure strict compliance. This decision followed a state executive council retreat presided over by Governor Chukwuma Soludo on January 21, 2026.
Historical Context of Monday Sit-at-Home
The Monday sit-at-home practice originated on August 9, 2021, when the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) declared every Monday as a day of civil disobedience to demand the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Although IPOB later officially cancelled the directive, many residents continue to observe it due to persistent security concerns and fear of potential attacks.
This practice has significantly impacted economic and educational activities throughout southeastern Nigeria, with schools, markets, banks, and transportation systems routinely shutting down on Mondays despite official cancellations of the protest action.
Parent Teachers Association Response and Concerns
Mr. Augustine Iloma, chairman of the Parent Teachers Association at Community Secondary School in Inoma, Anambra West Local Government Area, expressed support for the government's directive while raising practical implementation concerns. In an exclusive interview, Iloma acknowledged that such an order represents the most direct approach to restoring Monday school attendance, which has effectively become an extension of the weekend in many communities.
However, Iloma highlighted several significant challenges:
- Previous similar directives from the same administration have failed to achieve lasting compliance
- Parents may keep children home on Mondays due to security fears despite teachers reporting to work
- Essential services like banks, markets, and transportation often remain closed on Mondays, creating logistical barriers
- The gradual nature of behavioral change required for full implementation
"Government directive on resumption of Monday classes is commendable, but can this be sustained?" Iloma questioned. "Markets and banks in Anambra do not open on Mondays. Local government and state secretariats hardly open on Mondays. Parks and transport stations do not open in many places."
Parental Perspectives and Security Apprehensions
Njideka, a parent with a child attending Okwuana Central School in Nnewi North Local Government Area, acknowledged the governor's appropriate action while expressing skepticism about practical implementation. She noted the contradiction between expecting children to attend school when most other sectors remain closed on Mondays.
"They said that IPOB has directed people to go about their businesses on Mondays, but as you can see, nobody is going about their business on Mondays," she observed. "Hospitals, banks, motor parks, transportation systems, and markets do not open on Mondays. Even government people do not go to work on Mondays, but they want me to send my children to class on a Monday?"
Njideka suggested that a political solution addressing Nnamdi Kanu's detention would be more effective than enforcement measures alone. "Once Kanu is out, next Monday, everything will open up, and people will go to their business. This is what these government people should do immediately - not give orders up and down."
Related Enforcement Actions and Economic Implications
In a related development demonstrating the government's determination to end the sit-at-home practice, Governor Soludo recently ordered the closure of Onitsha Main Market for one week after traders continued complying with Monday shutdowns. Security operatives sealed the commercial hub, with the governor warning that the closure could extend to one month if traders refuse to resume normal economic activity.
Soludo described the traders' actions as economic sabotage undermining efforts to restore public order and business life in Anambra state. This parallel enforcement action against commercial establishments underscores the comprehensive approach being taken to normalize Monday activities across all sectors.
Implementation Challenges and Gradual Transition
The success of this directive faces multiple obstacles beyond mere compliance from educational staff. The interconnected nature of community activities means that school operations depend on functioning transportation systems, accessible banking services, and general public confidence in security arrangements.
Iloma emphasized the need for government leniency during the transition period, noting that "issues such as stopping Monday sit-at-home in the state will take time to resolve." He urged Governor Soludo to remain firm in implementation while understanding the gradual nature of behavioral change required from both educators and parents.
The Anambra government's directive represents a significant attempt to reclaim normalcy in educational scheduling, but its effectiveness will depend on addressing the underlying security concerns and logistical challenges that have sustained the Monday sit-at-home practice despite its official cancellation years ago.
