Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, made a move to ensure full compliance with the sit-at-home ban in the state by personally inspecting various locations in the capital. On Monday, he visited several places including Spar Mall, Roban Stores at Bisalla Road, Market Square, Shoprite, Zenith Bank at Ogui Road, Celebrities, Ogbete Market, Garki Awkunanaw Market, Mayor Market, Abakpa Market, and the State Secretariat. The governor expressed his appreciation to residents who adhered to the sit-at-home ban.
However, despite the government’s warning of permanent closure for non-compliant businesses, some establishments remained closed on Monday. The sit-at-home order originated from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a demand for the release of their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
At the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUT-Parklane), there was chaos as workers rushed to sign attendance registers at the office of the Chief Medical Director to avoid government sanctions. Hospital management informed employees that failure to report to work on Mondays or any other day in the name of sit-at-home would result in a 25% salary deduction.
This measure was implemented following a meeting between the governor and heads of government agencies and parastatals, aiming to compel workers to resume their duties and break the cycle of Monday sit-at-home protests in the state.
Governor Mbah had previously declared the sit-at-home ban in June, emphasizing its negative impact on the state’s economy. To enforce the ban, he mandated that all civil servants sign attendance registers on Mondays. At the state teaching hospital, workers were required to sign in by 8:30 am and sign out at 4 pm. Employees arriving after the designated time were considered absent, and those who didn’t show up on Mondays would face a 25% salary reduction.
To avoid sanctions and potential attacks by pro-Biafran sit-at-home enforcers, some workers opted to spend Sunday night at the hospital, ensuring they could sign the attendance register before the 8:30 am deadline.
While schools, especially government-owned secondary schools, opened their doors, student attendance remained low. During his tour on Monday, Governor Mbah reiterated the warning that businesses persisting with closures on Mondays risked permanent shutdown.
The governor emphasized that the government had provided ample security, leading to no reported attacks since the sit-at-home ban began in June. He interacted with business owners, shoppers, traders, and civil servants at the state secretariat, stating that they should not be intimidated by the threat of violence from criminals. Governor Mbah highlighted the economic losses of over N10 billion incurred each Monday due to the sit-at-home order, urging residents to reject it and work diligently throughout the week.
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