In order to ensure complete adherence to the sit-at-home directive in Enugu State, Governor Peter Mbah conducted a comprehensive inspection of different areas within the state capital on Monday to assess the level of compliance.
Nevertheless, despite the implementation of surveillance measures, private enterprises continued to witness a significant number of individuals opting to remain at home, resulting in sparsely populated roads and markets.
At the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, ESUT-Parklane, a significant commotion ensued as a multitude gathered outside the office of the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Hypcinth Onah, in order to record their attendance for the day’s work on Monday.
According to the hospital management, employees were informed that a 25 percent deduction from their salary would be imposed if they failed to report to work on Mondays or any other day designated as a sit-at-home by a pro-Biafra group.
Even though Mbah forbade the sit-at-home movement that the Indigenous individuals of Biafra started to protest the imprisonment of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, many individuals continue to participate, especially those who are not government workers.
According to reports, the governor has ordered all government facilities to begin recording employee attendance on Mondays and to begin surcharging employees who don’t show up for work on designated “sit-at-home” days.
However, during monitoring, Mbah, who was at the 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, reportedly commended residents of the state for the level of compliance.
Mbah, who took time to interact with business owners, shoppers, traders as well as civil servants at the State Secretariat, said “It should never be heard that we were cowed because of the threat of violence by these criminals,” noting that “the poverty that will befall us for sitting at home will kill us even faster.
“We are losing over N10bn every Monday that we sit at home. Enough is enough. This foolishness must end and it must end now. We cannot be marginalising ourselves and still complain of marginalisation.
“So, we must say no to sit-at-home because what it means is that we are destroying our employment, our economy, and our GDP. We must erase it from our memories. We should see it as our shameful past, which we do not want to remember. We must put it behind us and forge ahead, ensuring that we work every working day of the week,” he said.
