Anambra State to Refund Erroneous February Salary Deductions

The Anambra State Government has pledged to refund civil servants whose February 2026 salaries were wrongly reduced due to absences on Mondays, previously declared as sit-at-home days by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The announcement was confirmed by Chris Ogbonna, chairman of the state chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), who explained that the government acted following the union’s urgent intervention.

“The state government has promised to refund all the over-deducted salaries of civil servants and other workers who failed to report for work on Mondays during the heated period,” Ogbonna said, noting that some workers received deductions that did not align with the number of Mondays they missed.

Reports from staff at the Jerome Udoji State Secretariat in Awka indicated that reductions were inconsistent, with some workers receiving only a fraction of their regular pay.

One civil servant who asked to remain anonymous said a colleague earned just N10,000 for February after deductions, while another from the Ministry of Information disclosed receiving only N3,500 out of a salary exceeding N80,000.

Ogbonna described the refund as a positive step toward fairness and commended the state government for responding promptly. He also revealed that the TUC is appealing to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to consider assisting workers in reclaiming contributions made to the Contributing Pension Scheme, which some members had paid into during the same period.

The union chair rated the governor’s achievements across sectors at 85 percent, reflecting overall satisfaction with his administration.

Pro-Rata Payments to End Sit-at-Home Policy

The February salary adjustments were part of a broader initiative to implement pro-rata payments for civil servants as the state worked to end the Monday sit-at-home protests. Under the policy, salaries were to be calculated based on actual attendance rather than full monthly pay, ensuring fairness while discouraging absenteeism.

However, inconsistencies in the deductions prompted backlash from staff and highlighted gaps in the initial execution of the policy. The government’s promise to refund the excess deductions is seen as an effort to restore trust and maintain harmonious labour relations.

The Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, could not immediately confirm when refunds would be processed but assured that the Accountant-General’s office would be consulted to ensure a resolution.

The pro-rata payment system underscores Anambra State’s attempt to balance enforcement of labour policies with fairness to workers.

By addressing errors in the February salary deductions, the government signals its commitment to resolving disputes, improving administrative accuracy, and promoting employee welfare, even amid complex political and social pressures.

With the refund process now underway, affected civil servants are expected to receive their adjusted salaries in the coming weeks, providing relief and reinforcing the principle of accountability in public service remuneration.

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