Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, has ordered all public servants in the state to always report to work on Mondays, like other weekdays.
The Mondays ‘Sit-at-Home’ order was given by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), last August to press home the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
It could be recalled that the group, which had earlier called for a shutdown of businesses on Mondays, had rescinded it, but despite the rescinding of the decision by the separatist group, there have been fear of attacks on those who go to work, leading to continued stay at home every Monday.
In some parts of the state, Saturdays have been adopted as working days, including schools and banks as a replacement for Monday.
Soludo had last year lamented the continued boycott of work on Mondays in the South East, saying that the zone loses an estimated N19.6 billion every Monday.
During his inaugural speech as governor, two weeks ago, Soludo had extended an olive branch to all armed groups, saying he was ready to engage them in a round table discussion. He lamented that many criminals now hide under course of IPOB to perpetuate criminality, adding that the sit-at-home order was killing the economy of the Southeast.
IPOB, through its spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the IPOB would collaborate with Soludo so far he does not work against the interest of the group.
But in a move to return Monday to normal working days, Prof. Soludo, in a directive, through the Head of Service, Barr. Theodora Igwegbe, on Friday ordered workers to always ensure they are at their duty posts on Mondays.
In a circular dated today 25th March 2022, signed by the Head of Service, Barr. Theodora Igwegbe, the governor warned that absence from work on Mondays will attract sanctions.
Part of the memo read: “Following the need to reposition the service for better performance and productivity, His Excellency, the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has directed that henceforth, all public servants should report at their places of work every Monday as every other weekdays.
“Consequently, absence from work on Monday, or any other workday without any approval will be viewed as serious misconduct, which will attract appropriate sanctions. This directive takes immediate effect.”
