Taraba Sanitation Chair Justifies Salary Cuts for Sweepers

Illiya Kefa, the chairman of the Taraba State Environmental Sanitation Agency, defended the decision to reduce the monthly salary of street sweepers from N15,000 to N10,000. This adjustment, announced on Tuesday, is part of an internal administrative measure aimed at managing available resources and sustaining the agency's operations across the 16 local government areas in Taraba State.

Kefa clarified that the reduction is not a direct order from Governor Agbu but a necessary step to recruit new workers and manage the agency's increased workforce expenses. The agency had previously introduced a monthly allowance of N20,000 for street sweepers in 2023, which was later reduced to N15,000 in March 2024.

Workers were reportedly asked to either accept the N5,000 cut or forfeit their positions. The agency manages a large workforce, including 100 casual workers, and spends N5 million monthly to feed them.

Kefa emphasized that the salary adjustments were essential for the agency's financial sustainability.