Taraba State Government has reduced the monthly allowance of workers under the Operation Keep Taraba Clean programme, commonly known as street sweepers, from ₦15,000 to ₦10,000.
The Chairman of the Taraba State Environmental and Sanitation Agency, Hon. Illiya Kefas, confirmed the salary reduction during a briefing with journalists in Jalingo.
According to him, the decision was taken following directives from Governor Agbu Kefas as part of efforts to accommodate newly recruited workers in the state and local government civil services.
Kefas explained that the state is facing increased financial responsibilities after the recent employment of additional civil servants, while allocations from the Federation Account remain limited.
The street sweepers, who were employed in 2023, initially earned ₦20,000 monthly before their allowance was reduced to ₦15,000 in 2024. Reports indicate they received ₦10,000 for May 2026, marking another cut in their earnings.
Defending the decision, the agency chairman stated that anyone unwilling to work for the new amount was free to leave the programme.
He also noted that the agency bears several operational expenses, including payments to coordinators, supervisors, monitoring teams and casual workers across the state’s 16 local government areas, as well as sanitation and waste management activities.
Kefas maintained that the salary reduction was necessary to keep the agency running and meet its obligations despite financial challenges.
The development has sparked concerns about the welfare of low-income workers, especially amid rising living costs across the country.
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