Soludo Orders Salary Deductions Over February Sit-at-Home in Anambra

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, has directed the deduction of salaries for civil servants who failed to report to work during the February 2026 sit-at-home observance, reinforcing the state government’s stance on public service accountability.

The directive was announced by the Governor’s Office in Awka following reports of widespread absenteeism that affected state administration, public schools and commercial activities across parts of the state.

The sit-at-home actions, widely associated with separatist agitations in southeastern Nigeria, were organised as a form of protest against federal policies and to assert regional political demands. However, the state government maintained that public institutions must remain operational regardless of political tensions.

In a statement, Soludo stressed that civil servants are obligated to serve the public and uphold the continuity of governance. “Government work cannot be held hostage by activism. Civil servants must honour their responsibilities,” he said.

According to the directive, salary deductions will correspond to the number of days affected, while pensionable benefits will remain intact — a measure officials describe as balancing administrative discipline with procedural fairness.

Policy analysts say the move signals a firm commitment by the Anambra State Government to deter politically motivated disruptions within the civil service and to reinforce the principle that essential public functions must not be interrupted.

The action forms part of the governor’s broader strategy to sustain governance, protect state revenue, and restore public confidence amid recurring sit-at-home pressures in the region.