Taraba State Cuts Street Sweepers' Salary to ₦10,000

The Taraba State government has approved a reduction in the monthly salary of street sweepers from ₦15,000 to ₦10,000, a move that has sparked reactions among the workers. Hon.

Illiya Kefa Dure, Chairman of the Taraba State Environment and Sanitation Agency, announced this decision during a media briefing in Jalingo. The governor, Agbu, directed this salary adjustment as part of efforts to address the state's financial obligations, particularly in light of the increasing financial burden on local government services.

The allocation from the federal account has been insufficient to meet the growing demands, leading to this difficult decision. The street sweeper program, which was introduced in 2023, has seen a steady decline in earnings over the past three years, with workers initially earning ₦20,000 monthly.

The new salary structure is set to be implemented by May 2026, and while workers can exit the program if unwilling to accept the new pay, there are concerns regarding the welfare of low-income earners in the state.