Outrage Over Slashing OF Street Sweepers’ Pay From N15,000 To N10,000

•Those Dissatisfied Free To Quit- Illiya Kefas

Outrage has trailed the decision of the Taraba State Government to slash the monthly allowance of street sweepers under the Operation Keep Taraba Clean programme from N15,000 to N10,000, with residents describing the move as “heartless” and “unjustifiable” amid worsening economic conditions.

The affected workers, considered among the lowest-paid in the state workforce, had earlier seen their earnings reduced from N20,000 in 2023 to N15,000 in 2024. The latest cut, implemented in May 2026, represents a further decline in their already meagre income.

Several residents who spoke on the development expressed anger, noting that street sweepers remain one of the most visible and active segments of the state’s workforce.

“These are the people you see every morning keeping the streets clean, yet they are the ones being punished,” a resident said. “Many offices are not even functioning effectively, but these workers show up daily.”

Others questioned the rationale behind the decision, arguing that with increased federal allocations and internally generated revenue, the government should be better positioned to cater for vulnerable workers.

“These are the poorest of the poor,” another resident stated. “If anything, their pay should be increased, not reduced.”

The Chairman of the Taraba State Environmental and Sanitation Agency, Hon. Illiya Kefas, confirmed the salary cut while speaking with journalists in Jalingo, attributing the decision to financial pressure following the recruitment of new civil servants.

“Yes, we did not pay them N15,000 this month; we paid them N10,000 each,” he said, explaining that the adjustment was necessary to accommodate additional workers within limited resources.

Kefas disclosed that the directive followed instructions from Governor Agbu Kefas as part of efforts to manage the state’s wage obligations. He also cited constraints in allocations from the Federation Account as a contributing factor.

Defending the move, the agency chairman maintained that participation in the programme was voluntary and that those dissatisfied were free to opt out.

“I have the right to ask my people to work at N10,000. Anyone interested will work, and if you are not, you can go your way,” he said in a text message to journalists.

He further outlined the agency’s financial commitments, including payments to coordinators, supervisors, monitoring teams and casual workers spread across the 16 local government areas of the state, as well as operational costs tied to waste evacuation and sanitation logistics.

“There is nothing wrong to slash their salaries. Do you journalists ask us how we manage the agency?” he queried.

However, the explanation has done little to calm public reaction, with growing concerns that the reduction could worsen the living conditions of the workers, especially against the backdrop of rising inflation and cost of living nationwide.

There are also indications that the earnings could drop further to about N7,500 if additional adjustments are implemented, a prospect that has heightened anxiety among the workers and drawn the attention of labour advocates.

The development is expected to spark broader debate on workers’ welfare, government spending priorities and the sustainability of social intervention programmes in the state.