The Taraba State Government has reduced the monthly salaries of workers under the Operation Keep Taraba Clean programme, widely known as street sweepers, from N15,000 to N10,000.
The Chairman of the Taraba State Environmental and Sanitation Agency, Illiya Kefas, confirmed the development while addressing journalists in Jalingo.
He explained that the salary adjustment was made based on a directive from Governor Agbu Kefas as part of efforts to manage available resources following the recent recruitment of new workers into the state and local government civil service.
“Yes, we did not pay the sweepers N15,000 this month; we paid them N10,000 each,” Hon. Kefas said.
The street sweepers were initially engaged by the state government in 2023 with a monthly allowance of N20,000.
In March 2024, the workers were reportedly given the option to either accept a N5,000 pay cut or lose their jobs, reducing their monthly wages to N15,000.
Recent reports show that they were paid N10,000 in May 2026, marking another drop from the amount earlier agreed upon.
Explaining the development, Illiya Kefas said the state government had to adjust its financial commitments in order to meet obligations after employing a large number of new workers.
According to him, the decision was also influenced by the limited funds allocated from the Federation Account.
In a follow-up text message with journalists, the agency chairman defended the salary reduction, insisting that workers unhappy with the arrangement were free to resign.
“I have the right to ask my people to work for N10,000. Anyone interested will work, and if you are not, you can go your way,” he said.
He further explained that the agency has several financial obligations, including payments to local government coordinators, supervisors, monitoring teams, and casual workers spread across the state’s 16 local government areas.
Kefas added that team leaders in charge of roadside cleaning are paid daily allowances, stressing that a large portion of the agency’s resources goes into sanitation and waste evacuation.
“There is nothing wrong with slashing their salaries. Do you journalists ask us how we run the agency?” he asked.
He maintained that the agency spends heavily on sanitation operations and environmental cleanliness in Jalingo and other parts of the state.
With the new directive, reports indicate that the street sweepers’ monthly earnings may drop further to about N7,500 if the 50 per cent cut is fully enforced on the earlier agreed N15,000 allowance.
SOME ONLINE REACTIONS:
The development has triggered widespread criticism from Nigerians, many of whom argue that reducing workers’ earnings at a time of soaring inflation and economic hardship would further worsen living conditions for low-income households.
Reacting on X, Owolabi Damilola Ayobami (@Damilolamoney) described the move as insensitive.
“This is just inhumane, reducing salaries in this economy. What happened to the increased allocations states have been receiving since the removal of fuel subsidy?” he asked.
Another user, @joshuazeal, accused political leaders of prioritising their own welfare while neglecting workers.
“They will never reduce their own salaries. There will always be money to pay themselves and buy needless SUVs, but there is never enough money to pay the N70,000 minimum wage. Many are not even paying the previous N30,000, yet they want to slash N15,000 to N10,000. Poverty!” he wrote.
Similarly, @haqqun001 questioned the rationale behind the proposed reduction, noting that many workers are already struggling to survive.
“In this harsh economy, what can anyone do with N15,000, not to talk of reducing it to N10,000? Why are leaders making life harder for the people they govern?” the user posted.
BACKSTORY…
The Taraba State Government’s decision to reduce the salaries of street sweepers did not come as a sudden development, but rather a continuation of ongoing concerns about the funding and sustainability of the state’s sanitation programme. Over time, the agency responsible for environmental services has repeatedly pointed to financial strain, especially limited allocations from the Federation Account, as a major challenge affecting its operations.
The sanitation workforce, which includes street sweepers, coordinators, supervisors, and monitoring teams spread across all 16 local government areas, has long been maintained through a combination of small stipends and daily allowances. Officials say these payments are part of a broader effort to keep cities like Jalingo clean despite limited resources.
In defending the latest adjustment, the agency chairman explained that rising operational costs—such as waste evacuation, logistics, and allowances for team leaders—have made it difficult to maintain the previous pay structure. He argued that the decision was necessary to keep the sanitation system running, even if it meant reducing workers’ earnings.
The move, however, has now triggered public outrage, with critics describing it as unfair to low-income workers who already earn modest wages for essential environmental work.
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