The Anambra State Government has reportedly deducted the salaries of civil servants who failed to report to work on Mondays, sparking concerns among affected workers.
A staff member of the Anambra State Ministry of Information, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that he received only ₦3,500 from his usual salary of over ₦80,000. According to him, the deductions were drastic and inconsistent. He further claimed that a colleague reportedly received just ₦100, while another staff member had ₦10,000 removed from her salary.
While government officials have described the deductions as enforcement of a pro-rata pay policy, some civil servants insist the implementation appears excessive and lacks uniformity.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Anambra State Sports Development Commission (ASSDC), Patrick‑Estate Onyedum, has stated that Anambra State has experienced steady growth in sports development under Governor Chukwuma Soludo over the past four years.
Speaking during an interview in Awka, Onyedum noted that reforms introduced by the current administration have repositioned sports in the state for improved performance at national competitions. He highlighted that Anambra surpassed previous records during the National Youth Games held in Asaba in 2022, where the state won eight gold medals alongside several silver and bronze medals.
According to him, the reintroduction of school sports in 2023 has played a key role in discovering and nurturing young talents. The programme began with about 200 schools and operates through a competitive structure starting from inter-community level to local government and zonal levels, before culminating in the state finals in Awka.
In the education sector, OSNON Academy, located in Uga, has recorded a major academic milestone as two of its Year 9 students excelled in the South East Maths Olympiad.
One of the students, Emmanuel Chinwuba, emerged first in Anambra State with a remarkable score of 117 out of 120, while Ronald Okpala secured third position statewide with 112 out of 120. Both students will represent Anambra State at the Olympiad finals scheduled for March 7, 2026.
The competition, organized by Intervention for South East Education in collaboration with Educare, is designed to promote excellence in Mathematics among primary and secondary school students across the South-East region.
However, tension is brewing in Enugwu‑Agidi community in Njikoka Local Government Area, where the President-General of the town, Chief Pius Nwankwo, has raised concerns over alleged militarisation linked to the development of the NAF Green Garden Estate.
The estate project, reportedly unveiled in 2025 and expected to contain about 800 duplexes and several modern facilities, is said to involve land whose acquisition is being disputed by community members. In an open letter authored on his behalf by Dr Chinedu Ikeanyi, it was alleged that military personnel had been stationed on the land to intimidate local farmers and prevent them from accessing their farmlands.
In another development, the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) has welcomed the sentencing of controversial native doctor Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Ọkụkụ Tiwara Akị. The council also commended the destruction of his shrine and ritual objects as part of the state’s campaign for moral reorientation.
According to the council, the action aligns with the Igbo philosophy that “Aka aja aja na-ebute ọnụ mmanụ mmanụ,” meaning hard work leads to prosperity and fulfillment.
Similarly, the Managing Director of the Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), Mike Ozoemena, has attributed the improvement in environmental sanitation across the state to institutional reforms introduced under the administration of Governor Soludo.
He noted that urban centres such as Awka, Onitsha, and Nnewi are now experiencing more predictable waste collection cycles, stricter supervision of contractors, and improved monitoring of dumpsites.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA), Ralph Nweke, has been appointed Football Coordinator for the Tinubu Support Organisation ahead of its national football tournament scheduled for April 2026. The appointment aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a related development, members of Island All Stars Lagos paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of ANSFA, Chikelue Iloenyosi, during their visit to Anambra State.
The delegation of veteran footballers was travelling to Akweze to commiserate with one of their members who recently lost a loved one. Iloenyosi commended the group for their unity and solidarity, stressing the importance of sustaining strong bonds within the football community, especially during moments of grief.
