Education
Anambra issues Executive Order to end Monday school closures amid persistent Sit-at-Home observance
Written By: Chisom Onyibe
24 Jan 2026 05:53 AM
Awka, Anambra – The Anambra State Government has taken decisive action to dismantle the lingering practice of Monday closures in public schools, issuing an Executive Order that abolishes the unofficial sit-at-home observance and imposing strict penalties on non-compliant staff.
In a circular dated January 22, 2026, sighted by DAILY South Nigeria and signed by Loveline Mgbemena, Board Secretary of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), the government directed all educational institutions to resume full operations on Mondays with immediate effect.
The directive follows a state Executive Council retreat held on January 21, 2026, presided over by Governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo.
The letter, titled “Executive Order on Termination of Monday Sit-at-Home in Anambra State,” explicitly states that the protracted Monday sit-at-home has been abolished. It warns that any tutorial or non-tutorial staff, teachers, administrators, or other employees who fail to report to school or their office on Mondays will face severe sanctions, of either receiving only 20 per cent of their salary or forfeiting it entirely for the period of absence.
Mgbemena instructed permanent board members, officers overseeing the 21 local government areas, zonal directors, and departmental heads to disseminate the order to all subordinates and ensure full compliance.
“Please be properly guided as the above is the executive decision of the state government,” the circular emphasized.
The Monday sit-at-home originated in August 2021 when the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) declared it as a form of protest demanding the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
A statement from IPOB's Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, at the time called for restricted movement, with schools, markets, and motor parks ordered to shut down every Monday.
Although IPOB leadership officially suspended the directive years ago, many residents in the South-East, including Anambra, have continued to observe it voluntarily or out of lingering fear of potential attacks by unknown gunmen enforcing the old order.
This has led to widespread disruption of economic and educational activities, with schools often remaining closed on Mondays despite official government positions against it.
Governor Soludo's administration has repeatedly condemned the sit-at-home practice, describing it as economically crippling and non-negotiable. Previous efforts by the state to enforce normalcy on Mondays have included directives to businesses, banks, and markets to open, but compliance in the education sector has remained inconsistent.
The latest Executive Order represents a stronger push, targeting public sector workers particularly in schools as the starting point for broader enforcement.
The move is seen as part of Soludo's ongoing campaign to restore normalcy, boost economic productivity, and eliminate self-imposed restrictions in Anambra State.
Stakeholders in the education sector have expressed mixed reactions, with some welcoming the return to full weekly schooling to minimize learning losses, while others worry about potential security risks or community pushback.
The state government has signaled that enforcement will be rigorous, underscoring its determination to end the Monday disruptions once and for all.
In a circular dated January 22, 2026, sighted by DAILY South Nigeria and signed by Loveline Mgbemena, Board Secretary of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), the government directed all educational institutions to resume full operations on Mondays with immediate effect.
The directive follows a state Executive Council retreat held on January 21, 2026, presided over by Governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo.
The letter, titled “Executive Order on Termination of Monday Sit-at-Home in Anambra State,” explicitly states that the protracted Monday sit-at-home has been abolished. It warns that any tutorial or non-tutorial staff, teachers, administrators, or other employees who fail to report to school or their office on Mondays will face severe sanctions, of either receiving only 20 per cent of their salary or forfeiting it entirely for the period of absence.
Mgbemena instructed permanent board members, officers overseeing the 21 local government areas, zonal directors, and departmental heads to disseminate the order to all subordinates and ensure full compliance.
“Please be properly guided as the above is the executive decision of the state government,” the circular emphasized.
The Monday sit-at-home originated in August 2021 when the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) declared it as a form of protest demanding the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
A statement from IPOB's Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, at the time called for restricted movement, with schools, markets, and motor parks ordered to shut down every Monday.
Although IPOB leadership officially suspended the directive years ago, many residents in the South-East, including Anambra, have continued to observe it voluntarily or out of lingering fear of potential attacks by unknown gunmen enforcing the old order.
This has led to widespread disruption of economic and educational activities, with schools often remaining closed on Mondays despite official government positions against it.
Governor Soludo's administration has repeatedly condemned the sit-at-home practice, describing it as economically crippling and non-negotiable. Previous efforts by the state to enforce normalcy on Mondays have included directives to businesses, banks, and markets to open, but compliance in the education sector has remained inconsistent.
The latest Executive Order represents a stronger push, targeting public sector workers particularly in schools as the starting point for broader enforcement.
The move is seen as part of Soludo's ongoing campaign to restore normalcy, boost economic productivity, and eliminate self-imposed restrictions in Anambra State.
Stakeholders in the education sector have expressed mixed reactions, with some welcoming the return to full weekly schooling to minimize learning losses, while others worry about potential security risks or community pushback.
The state government has signaled that enforcement will be rigorous, underscoring its determination to end the Monday disruptions once and for all.
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