By John Umeh
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly criticised the Anambra State Government’s decision to introduce pro-rata salary payments for civil servants who stay away from work on Mondays, describing the move as an open provocation and an assault on civil liberties.
In a statement released on Sunday, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful defended the weekly Monday sit-at-home observed across the state, insisting it remains a peaceful and lawful form of civil resistance, not a criminal offence. According to the group, the action is a symbolic show of solidarity with its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Powerful faulted the government’s approach, arguing that no elected authority has the legal or moral right to compel citizens to conduct business against their will when their actions are non-violent and voluntary.
“Anambra is not under military rule, and its people are not subjects to be ordered about,” the statement read. “Punishing workers for acting according to conscience amounts to a declaration of war on their dignity.”
The group accused the state government of ignoring the deep-rooted grievances driving unrest in the South-East and instead choosing intimidation as a response. IPOB claimed the policy was an attempt to curry favour with federal authorities rather than address the underlying issues affecting the region.
Warning against escalation, IPOB said any attempt to enforce compliance through task forces or security-backed pressure would cross a “dangerous line.” It stressed that participation in the sit-at-home is voluntary and not enforced by the group.
“We do not compel anyone to stay indoors, but no government should attempt to force people onto the streets,” Powerful said, describing the protest as a personal and collective choice rooted in history and shared pain.
The reaction follows an announcement by the Anambra State Government that from February 2026, civil servants’ salaries will be calculated based on actual days worked, using a 24-working-day framework. The policy was adopted during an end-of-tenure retreat of the State Executive Council.
State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, explained that the decision was taken after authorities concluded that previous security concerns no longer justified widespread absenteeism on Mondays.
He argued that continued absence disrupts governance, weakens revenue generation, and slows economic activity across the state. Mefor added that under civil service regulations, habitual absenteeism could attract disciplinary action, but the government opted for salary adjustments instead.
“Government business cannot function when workers fail to report for duty,” he said, noting that revenue losses from idle Mondays are often irrecoverable.
The commissioner also revealed that discussions are ongoing with market leaders to encourage traders to reopen on Mondays, alongside improved security arrangements to reassure residents.
He dismissed suggestions of shifting official workdays, warning that abandoning Mondays would signal capitulation and isolate Anambra as the only state operating on weekends.
Despite the government’s stance, IPOB maintained that the sit-at-home will continue as a non-violent expression of protest and urged the state’s leadership to rethink punitive measures against citizens observing it.
