Taraba State Government has slashed the salaries of members of the Operation Keep Taraba Clean programme, popularly known as street sweepers, from N15,000 to N10,000, citing the need to accommodate newly employed civil servants in the state workforce.

The Chairman of the Taraba State Environmental and Sanitation Agency, Hon. Illiya Kefas, confirmed the development while speaking with journalists in Jalingo.

According to him, the decision followed a directive from Governor Agbu Kefas aimed at managing available resources amid recent recruitment into the state and local government civil services.

“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.

However, in March 2024, they were reportedly asked to accept a reduction of N5,000 or forfeit their positions, bringing their monthly earnings down to N15,000.

Reports indicate that the workers received N10,000 in May 2026, representing a further reduction from the previously negotiated amount.

Explaining the decision, Kefas said the state had to balance its financial obligations following the employment of a large number of new workers.

According to him, limited allocations from the Federation Account also contributed to the decision.

In a subsequent text message exchange with journalists, the agency chairman defended the salary cut and maintained that workers who were dissatisfied with the arrangement were free to leave.

“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 stated.

He also highlighted the agency’s financial commitments, including payments to local government coordinators, supervisors, monitoring teams and casual workers engaged across the state’s 16 local government areas.

Kefas further disclosed that team leaders overseeing roadside cleaning operations receive daily allowances and argued that significant resources are spent on sanitation and waste evacuation activities.

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

He added that the agency incurs substantial operational costs in maintaining sanitation services and improving environmental cleanliness in Jalingo and other parts of the state.

With the latest directive, reports suggest that the monthly earnings of the street sweepers could further decline to about N7,500 if the 50 per cent reduction is fully implemented on the previously negotiated N15,000 allowance.

The development is expected to generate debate among labour advocates and residents, particularly amid concerns over the welfare of low-income workers and the rising cost of living across the country. (TRIBUNE)