Ahead of the sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Government of Anambra State has threatened to sanction any civil servants that joins the protest.
Recall that IPOB had recently asked southeast residents to sit at home on Monday, August 9, 2021, to protest against the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and to push for his release.
The separatist group had said that all public and private institutions in the southeast including transport companies, schools, banks, markets, airports, and seaports must be shut down to observe the order.
But in a statement attributed to Head Of Service, Harry Udu, the Anambra State Government has said it will not pay August salary to any worker who abstains from duty on Monday in obedience to IPOB’s sit-at-home order.
The statement directed commissioners and permanent secretaries to monitor the situation and report accordingly.
“The Government of Anambra State has directed that all workers in the state must attend to their duties on Monday 9th August 2021.
“Failure to do so will result in severe sanctions including loss of salary for the month of August.
“All Hon. Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries are to monitor and report compliance, please.
Kindly give this information the widest publicity in your Establishment,” the statement reads.
The Abia State Government has also advised residents of the state to disregard the protest and go about their lawful businesses on Monday.
The state government in a statement by its Information Commissioner, John Okiyi-Kalu on Friday, added that nobody should compel anyone in the state to observe the sit-at-home order.