Anambra State House of Assembly has called on residents to discontinue forthwith the Monday Sit-at Home order and resume all economic and social activities accordingly.
The 8th assembly at plenary on Tuesday January 27th, through a motion sponsored by the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Johnbosco Akaegbobi, urged market and religious leader, schools, civil/public servants, transporters, SMEs to commence full scale activities forthwith across the state.
Hon. Akaegbobi, the lawmaker representing Nnewi South two Constituency, while leading the debate, maintained that the Monday sit-at-home was originally initiated in 2021 by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to protest the detention of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which has evolved into a habitual weekly practice enforced by fear; across the South Eastern region.
The Minority Leader while raising his
concerns noted that the Sit at home directive, has disrupted economic and social activities across the South-East region for years and had been strongly condemned by the Soludo led Administration in Anambra State.
“The region loses approximately N88.08 billion every Monday, for example, Anambra State alone reports a loss of about N19.6 billion every Monday. The SMEs sector bears the heaviest burden, accounting for roughly 60°o of the total financial losses.
” Micro-business loses an estimated N4.6 trillion annually due to recurring closures. Transporters lose between N10 billion and N13 billion daily. Enforced inactivity has led to a 20°%o decline in annual effective workdays and a 35°o decline in business productivity of the public & labour sector.
‘Most religious leaders, residents of Anambra, Schools, Transporters, Market Leaders, Parents, Civil and Public Servants have perceived Monday as an extension of the weekend, hereby intentionally crippling the economic viability of Monday as the first working day of the every week.
“Governors have officially abolished the order, although many residents still comply with the sit at-home order due to “lingering climate of fear’’ and past violent attacks’. Akaegbobi submitted.
Supporting the motion, the Deputy Speaker Anambra Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Okoye (Awka South 2), Chief Whip Barr. Jude Ngobili (Ihiala One), Hon. Golden Iloh (Ihiala two), Hon. Chidi Ibemeka (Njikoka One), Hon. Nonso Atuchukwu (Nnewi Onitsha two), Hon. Ejike Okechukwu (Anaocha two) and the Majority Leader Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme (Ekwusigo) in their separate speeches called for the end of sit at home.
“There’s no law that backs sit at home. It should be discouraged. Its not good for the economy of Anambra State.
” We commend Governor Chukwuma Soludo for taking the bold step. We urge those sponsoring the sit at home to stop.
“Because of the sit at home, Anambra has loss investors. Enough is enough. Ignorance is not an excuse when we are getting it wrong. This is time for more sensitization”. the lawmakers said.
Anambra Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, who presided plenary, commended the Minority Leader of the House for sponsoring the motion.
Rt. Hon. Udeze maintained that this is the right time to do the right thing. He urged the lawmakers to encourage their constituents to discontinue the Monday Sit-at-home
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that
the House adjurned and to reconvene on Thursday January 29th.
