Taraba State Government has on Tuesday come under fire after slashing the monthly salary of street sweepers from N15,000 to N10,000.
The Chairman of the Taraba State Environmental and Sanitation Agency, Hon. Illiya Kefas, had announced the pay cut of the workers employed under the Operation Keep Taraba Clean programme.
Kefas, in his address to newsmen on Monday said 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.
The government official 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.
This had however sparked outrage from netizens who called out the state government over the reduction considered to be far below the N70,000 minimum wage.
“Pls how much is minimum wages in Taraba, this cruel action taken. They can’t reduce their expenses of costs in government but to reduce the sweepers salary which is total slavery. What can 20k sustain in this economy this people have family to cater for.”@AkintolaAbosed1
“Wait, is 70k no longer the minimum wage in this country? How can a government put forth such heartless measures while inflation is through the roof. Are they meant to eat 2-3 meals with 10k in a 30 days calendar month?”@oseunti
“Just imagine. I have come to the conclusion the ways to save the north is by sending in an intentional leader from another tribe to fix the region. There governors hiding in a religion many can’t read and understand is something else”@CHARLES_REVOL
“Keep them poor so they can sell their votes during elections. Keep them poor so you easily get their votes by sharing rice and beans before elections.”@Wiseman_505
“From #20,000 to #15,000, from #15,000 now to #10,000. How can u pay someone #10,000 monthly with the rate of inflation in Nigeria, kilode! These people are heartless sha. Politicians are the real devil.”@afor007
“And he wants state police o, how does he intend to pay the state policemen and women? Nigeria my country”@Olumuyi
“Federal government is busy making laws that state can’t obey, what an irony . So 70k minimum wage is for which people exactly ? . Funny people”@DONCOSMOSONYEM1
“This are the one of the major problem we are facing in this country,reducing employees salary just because you want to employ new workers. nawa for this country Some fools now would be saying is tinubu that curse it.”@sensicut07
“Taraba state has a lot of mineral resources it baffles me a lot why the state is still in low condition so pathetic.”@NnaemekaJoe1
“Wetin 10k wan buy for market? Be like state governors are becoming more wicked than Tinubu. No explanation is good enough to justify the reduction of their salaries”@letter2mike_