Street sweepers under Taraba State’s sanitation programme have had their monthly wages reduced following a fresh salary adjustment approved by the state government.
Trendbrio24 reports that the Taraba State Government has slashed the pay of workers under the Operation Keep Taraba Clean initiative from ₦15,000 to ₦10,000, a development that has sparked concern among residents and affected workers.
The decision was confirmed by the Chairman of the Taraba State Environmental and Sanitation Agency, Hon. Illiya Kefas, during a briefing in Jalingo.
According to Kefas, the reduction followed directives from Governor Agbu Kefas as the government struggles to manage rising financial pressures, including the recent recruitment of additional workers into the state and local government civil service.
He explained that increased wage obligations, coupled with limited allocations from the Federation Account, have made it difficult for the state to sustain its current spending structure.
Kefas said the government had no choice but to take difficult decisions in order to maintain essential services and continue supporting its workforce.
The affected workers, engaged under the Operation Keep Taraba Clean programme, are responsible for sanitation duties across the state.
Their earnings have gradually declined over the past three years. At the programme’s launch in 2023, they earned ₦20,000 monthly, which was later reduced to ₦15,000 in 2024, and has now been further cut to ₦10,000.
Reports confirm that workers received ₦10,000 as payment for May 2026, indicating the new structure is already in effect.
Defending the decision, Kefas said the agency is operating under significant financial strain and must carefully manage available resources.
He added that beyond paying street sweepers, the agency also handles operational costs across Taraba’s 16 local government areas, including supervision, coordination, waste management, and environmental sanitation exercises.
