Taraba Cuts Street Sweepers’ Allowance Again, Sparks Fresh Outcry Over Welfare

(Agbu Kefas. Photo Credit: TVC News)

The Taraba State Government has reduced the monthly allowance of street sweepers under its Operation Keep Taraba Clean programme from ₦15,000 to ₦10,000, sparking concern over the welfare of low-income workers amid rising living costs.

The Chairman of the Taraba State Environmental and Sanitation Agency, Hon. Illiya Kefas, confirmed the reduction during a briefing with journalists in Jalingo, saying the decision was taken on the directive of Governor Agbu Kefas as part of efforts to accommodate newly recruited workers in the state and local government civil services.

He explained that the state was facing increased financial responsibilities following the recent employment of additional civil servants, while allocations from the Federation Account remained limited.

The agency chairman also noted that the agency bore 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, making the reduction necessary to keep the agency running.

The affected workers, who were employed in 2023, initially earned ₦20,000 monthly before their allowance was cut to ₦15,000 in 2024. Reports indicate they received ₦10,000 for May 2026, marking a third reduction in their earnings since their employment.

Kefas defended the decision, stating that anyone unwilling to work for the new amount was free to exit the programme.

The development has drawn widespread concern over the treatment of low-income workers at a time of deepening economic hardship across the country.