Civil servants in the employ of the Imo State government who absent themselves from work on Mondays will henceforth be meted with punishment.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Declan Emelumba issued the threat in a statement made available to our correspondent in Owerri.
Hon Emelumba said adequate arrangements for security had been put in place to ensure the workers are in their duty posts to do their work.
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The statement reads: “This is to inform all indigenes and residents of Imo state that government has not authorized any public holiday or sit at home across the state, either today, Monday, March 21, 2022 or any other working day.
“Consequently, everyone is advised to go about his or her normal duties.
“Civil servants are particularly advised to ensure that they are in their offices discharging their responsibilities. Those who abstain from duty without authorization will be sanctioned accordingly.
“Government hereby assures all indigenes and residents of adequate security as they go about their lawful activities.”
A separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had last year declared Mondays as sit-at-home in the South East region of the country in solidarity with its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is at presently incarcerated by the Nigerian authorities.
The authorities accused him of crimes ranging from murder to treasonable felony.
And despite the IPOB announcing a cancellation of the sit-at-home on Mondays, the directive is still being observed in states in the South East except Imo State where it is only observed in the Orlu zone.
Residents of other parts of the state especially the state capital, Owerri had resumed normal activities on Mondays only for a statement purportedly emanating from IPOB before Monday, March 21 threatening to begin to enforce the sit-at-home across Imo State.
In the statement, owners of business houses and schools were warned to open at their own peril.
