The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered all public servants and political office holders in the state to start reporting at their places of work on Mondays or face serious sanctions.

According to a statement signed by the Head of Service, Mr Theodora Igwegbe, in Awka, on Friday, Soludo directed all public servants to report to work on Mondays, as they do on other workdays.

The governor, while stating that the directive takes immediate effect, added that any worker, who absents themself on Monday, without approval, would be viewed as serious misconduct, which would attract appropriate sanctions.

Following the Monday sit-at-home order declared by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, public offices, markets, banks, schools are always shut on Mondays.

Workers, traders and every other person have been observing the day as a free day in entire the South-East.

Although, IPOB had continuously issued statements, urging the people to ignore the sit-at-home order, saying that it had lifted the order.

The statement, titled, ‘Attendance to work’, which was also addressed to the Deputy Governor, Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Chief of Staff, all Commissioners, all Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries, all heads of ministerial departments, among others, directed them to disseminate the information to the public servants under their supervision and monitor compliance.

The statement read in part, “Following the need to reposition the service for better performance and productivity, His Excellency, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has directed that all public servants should henceforth report at their places of work on Monday as they do on other workdays.

“Consequently, absence from duty on Monday or any other official workday without approval will be viewed as serious misconduct which will attract appropriate sanctions.

“This directive takes immediate effect. Political office holders, permanent secretaries and all heads of departments are to disseminate the content of the circular to all public servants under their supervision and ensure compliance.”