Anambra State House of Assembly has thrown its weight behind the state government’s directive for Onitsha Main Market traders to stop observing the sit-at-home order every Monday, initiated by the Indigenous People of Biafra.
The Assembly said the directive had become imperative, as the state loses a total of N19.6 billion every Monday.
The lawmakers, during their plenary session on Tuesday in Awka, also resolved to support the governor’s decision to the close down the market for a week.
The lawmakers, therefore, urged residents to discontinue the Monday sit-at-home exercise forthwith.
On Monday, Governor Soludo ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market following the traders’ inability to comply with the directive to end the sit-at-home.
Mr Johnbosco Akaegbobi, the Minority Leader representing Nnewi South 1 Constituency, moved the motion calling on Anambra residents to discontinue the Monday sit-at-home forthwith.
Akaegbobi said the sit-at-home directive had disrupted economic and social activities across the state for years, noting that Anambra alone loses about N19.6 billion every Monday.
He explained that the Monday sit-at-home was initiated in 2021 by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra to protest the detention of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
He added that the practice had evolved into a habitual weekly exercise enforced by fear across the South Eastern region, costing the region approximately N88.08 billion every Monday.
Akaegbobi further noted that the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector bore the heaviest burden, accounting for roughly 60 per cent of total financial losses.
He said micro businesses lose an estimated N4.6 trillion annually due to recurring closures, while transporters lose between N10 billion and N13 billion daily.
The lawmakers said the enforced inactivity has led to a 20 per cent decline in annual effective workdays and a 35 per cent decline in business productivity in the public and labour sectors.
Deputy Speaker, Chuma Okoye, seconded the motion, noting that the action was apt.
He said the decision was for the common good of the people and should not be seen as high-handedness.
Okoye expressed concern that many religious leaders, residents, schools, market leaders, civil servants, and public servants have come to perceive Monday as an extension of the weekend, intentionally crippling the economic viability of the day as the first working day of every week.
Golden Ilo, representing Ihiala 2, said traders should see the state government’s action as beneficial for various enterprises and should back the governor by complying without further delay.
After deliberations on the motion and support from the majority of lawmakers, it was resolved that the sit-at-home directive should stop forthwith.
Speaker of the House, Sometochukwu Udeze, urged market leaders, religious leaders, schools, civil and public servants, transporters, and SMEs to commence full-scale activities across the state immediately.
